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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M580 

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CIHM/iCMH 

Microfiche 

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CiHIVI/ICMH 
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<\ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 


n 


n 


n 


sJ 


u 


u 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


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mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
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Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires: 


Various  Pagings. 


The 
tot 


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I      I  Pages  damaged/ 

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0  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

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I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


The 
pos 
oft 
film 


Ori( 
beg 
the 
sior 
othi 
firsi 
sior 
ori 


The 
she 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff< 
enti 
beg 
righ 
reqi 
met 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

A 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
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d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  \o 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Sd 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


IVIaps.  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
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required.  The  <<><lowing  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  dtre 
fiim^s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd.  il  est  filmd  d  parter 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


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2 

3 

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5 

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Br::iTOM   Mlir'1'HV/i.  M'CAKniY 


To  Y  OF  Till:  [!KV(|T|0V 


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^Vl^^nil   JUCv^V5.r4 


HISTORY  OF  THE  DEVOTION 


TO  TUE 


BLESSED  VIRGIN  MARY 


IN 


NOllTII  AMERICA. 


BY 


THE  REV.  XAVIER  DONALD  MACLEOD, 

PBOFESSOIt  OF   RHETOHIO   /  N'J   BULI.Ka    LETTltEa    IN    ST.    MAKy's    OOLLBOB. 

OINCINMATI. 


WITH  A  BIEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR, 

BY 

THE  MOST  REV.  JOHN  B.  PURCELL,  D.  D., 

AKoriiieuop  OF  Cincinnati. 


/HOI^O    HY    SUBSC'RIPTIOIV    ONLY 


IJCSTON : 
MURPHY  &  SIcCARTIIY, 

32  BllOMFIELD  STUEKT. 

Puovidenxe:     2G9  Westminstek  Stkeet. 
1879. 


'J 


JbiUnd  looording  to  Act  of  Onncn'OH  iii  tiie  year  imu, 

Bt    virtue    Si    YOKSTON, 

la  th«  Clerk's  Office  of  tbe  Uigtrlct  Court  of  the  ITnitGd  States  fur  tbu  Southcro 

of  Now  Vork. 


INBCRrBEl) 


BY    THE    PUBLISHERS 


TO 


Qn)e   iUemort} 


OF 


THE    AUTllOIi. 


and 
he  ir 


Xavi(j 
ten  all 
of  thi 

thy 

wh 

plo 


ich 


asi^ 


a  Win] 
Tiic 
MaiM 
appeUl 


PUBLISHERS'  NOTICE. 


Catrouc  LiTKUATiiRE  ill  tilis  country  is  not  yet  rich  in 
works  of  a  historical  character ;  and  though  wot  a  f<!W  have 
appeared  evincing'  great  rcHcarch,  and  worthy  of  a  high 
place,  there  was  Htill  wanting  a  popular  elenuiiit  which 
geuiuH  alone  could  supply  by  lending  its  charm  to  the  often 
dry  details  of  the  historian. 

The  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  this  country,  from 
its  settlement  to  the  present  day,  was  a  thenn!  which  had 
been  briefly  touched  upon  by  one  or  two  writers.  Still,  it 
was  a  field  which  the  late  lamented  author  of  the  following 
pages  entered  with  all  the  zeal  and  devotion  of  his  arden+ 
and  impassioned  character,  and  as  a  necessary  consequenci 
he  gave  his  work  the  stamp  of  his  peculiar  genius. 

Few  more  gifted  writers  have  appeared  among  us  that. 
Xavier  Donald  Macleod  ;  and  in  undertaking  his  work,  ma- 
terial was  contributed  by  his  numerous  friends.  The  writer 
of  this,  one  who  had  enjoyed  that  friendship  i'rom  boyhood^ 
rejoicing  to  see  him  about  to  take  up  a  subject  so  wor- 
thy of  his  talents,  furnished  him  an  abundant  material 
which  he  had  collected,  and  feels  now,  perhaps,  too  great 
pleasure  in  his  privilege  in  having  contributed  to  so  noble 
a  work  as  that  here  presented  to  the  Catholic  public. 

The  early  Spanish  explorers  came  with  the  banner  of 
Mary  ;  the  very  ship  of  Columbus  gave  up  its  profane 
appellation  for  that  of  "St.  Mary;"  the  earliest  shrines 


IV 


PumjHiiKKs'  Notice. 


woro  roan'fl  tiiiflcr  licr  iiivixNitioii  ;  bay,  and  rivor,  and 
tnoiintiiiii  received  tin;  hallowed  nam(!  ;  tlio  firHt  city  on 
tli(!  niainliuid  tliat  bccMirrin  a  biNliop'H  Bfu;  wah  St.  MaryV. 
If  tli<!  ardciiit  sons  of  Franco  cIioho  tlic;  icy  roalm  of  Canada 
to  plant  ihi':  JhmvH-de-tw,  itH  rigorw  could  not  chill  dov<jtion 
to  Mary  ;  Caiticr,  in  liiw  distrcHH,  tuniH  to  Mary,  and  vowh 
a  pil^^rimajjfo  to  her  Hhriiio  ;  and  Montn^al  Island  hcch  a  city 
rise  with  tlio  iiairK!  of  Villo  Marie  ;  while,  w<'Htward  as  hor 
pionc'crH  and  iniHHi(inari(;8  go,  St.  Mar^'  marku  her  patli,  till 
the  great  MirtwiHsippi,  the  River  of  th<;  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion, bears  them  down  again  towards  those  Spanish  realms 
where  every  oflicer  swore  to  defend  the  Immaculate  Con- 
cei)tion. 

The  Catholic  settlers  of  the  coast  between,  who  came 
from  tli(!  Uriti.sh  Isles,  came,  too,  with  love  for  Mary  ;  and 
the  land  which  seemed  dosed  forever  on  Catholicity,  is 
studded  with  shrines  of  Mary,  and  sees  a  council  of  arch- 
bishops and  bishops  meeting  uncluicked  by  government 
dictation,  and"  spontaneously  placing  the  land  under  the 
patronage  of  St.  Mary's  Immaculate  Conception. 

Such  is  the  theme  of  this  beautiful  work,  last  and  noblesi 
offering  of  tln^  genius  of  Xavier  Donald  Macleod.  It  can- 
jiot  but  be  read  with  charm  and  delight,  or  fail  to  quicken 
and  animate  zeal  and  devotion. 


conti:nts. 


CHAPTER  I. 


P»«« 


OiWKKAL  ViKw— Natl'kai,  (liiowTii  OK  TiiK  DEVOTION— FinsT  Catho- 
Lio«— SouTiiKiiN  Statkb  anu  CANADA— Ouh  I.akv's  DiscovunY  OP 

AmKUICA --(JIH'Ki.llKH  OF  IIEH  N'a  MK  — M  IMHTKKH  OK  TIIK  DliVOTION  — 
KUKOl'liAN  AND  AmI'KIUAN  IJKVOTION — IloNOll  UUK  TO  MaUY— KlII- 
0RANT8— I'ATItUNKHg  OK  TIIK  UnITEI)  iJTATKS 1 


CTIAPTKR  II. 

Zeal  or  I'ionkkus — Ciiamtlain  and  tiik  Kkcolleots — Mother  Mart 

or  THE    lN(!AltNATION    AND  T:iK  Uu8i;i,INi.8— M AUtJUETTE  AND  THE    IM- 
MACULATE  CONOKPTION 80 


CHAPTER  III. 

Advance  or  tiik  Devotion— Fikst  ."^evknty-five  Years— Jesuits  in 
Canada— Ouu  Lady  (jk  .\n()ki,s-()i,ii:b  a.\d  St.  Suli'iok — '1'iik  City 
or  Mary— Mademoisicllk  Manbe  and  tuk  IIuhimtal  Sihteks 60 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Marguerite  Bouugeoys  and  the  Conoreoation  or  OnR  Ladt. 


61 


CHAPTER  V. 

Extkrmination  or  the  IIukons— Olu  Ladt  or  Foie — New  Loretto — 
The  Northwest  -Immaculate  Conception  in  Illinois— Mary  Ako 
—Down  the  Mississii'im— Hack  to  Montreal— (Juii  Lady's  Guard 
— TfE  Congregation  again — Tub  Reclusk  or  Ville-Mauie — OuR 
Lad\  or  Angels 108 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Page 
Devotion  of  the  Holy  Family — Ouu  Ladv  of  Victory — Our  Lady 
OF  Good  Help — Our  Lady  of  the  Visitation— liOnoE  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception — Our  J^ady  of  (Snows — Cathedral  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  and  Churches  of  Ouu  Lady  in  C^UEiiEc. .   VS! 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Devotion  in  Texas,  California,  and  New  Mexico — Our  Lady  of 
Guadalupe — The  New  Mount  Carmel — The  Atlantic  Spanish 
Missionaries — Maryland 146 

CHAPTFR  VIII. 

The  Devohon  in  Maine — Sillery  and  Chaudiere — Wampum  Belt 
fob  Notre  Dame  de  Cuartres — The  Vow  of  the  Owknaounoa — 
Mission  of  the  Kenxkbec — Murder  of  Fathku  Kasles— The 
Catholic  Hed-bkin  and  the  1'uritan  Council 1 165 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Devotion  in  New  York— The  Saint  of  the  Mohawks— Saint 
Mauy  amono  the  Iboquois 184 

CHAPTER  X. 

Cub  Lady  of  Loretto  of  the  IIukons ^ 205 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Our  L\uy'8  Assumption,  a.  d.  1790,  and  what  oame  of  it — A  Mission- 
ary Pbinob 220 

CHAPTER  XII. 
OuB  Lady  of  the  Lake 238 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

OcR  Lady's  Sisters— Les  Sceurs  db  Notre  Damb 258 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

OuB  Lady  of  Mercy  and  Charity— Our  Lady's  loving  Friends  at 
the  Cross — Our  Lady  of  Christ's  precious  Blood 263 


Contents.  7 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Page 
Odr  Lady  of  Saint  Uhsdla  and  Saint  Anuela 2»7 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Various  Ouder8  of  Our  Lady — Pilorimaoes  to  Our  Lady  of  Peace, 
OF  Mkucy,  of  Grace,  and  back  to  Oub  Lady  of  Good  Help  in 
Montreal U13 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Oillik-Maiici  ;^an  Gael.— Malik  teba  Wanbanakki  Alnambak 338 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Oblati  Mari^  Iumaculat^ — Offered  for  Mary  Iumaoclats 356 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Mary's  Odlates  on  the  Atlantic  and  in  the  Land  of  the  Da- 
COTAH 892 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Company  of  Jesus  again— Immaculate  Conception  in  Boreal  Lati- 
tudes— Devotion  m  Minnesota — Oub  Lady  of  the  Kocky  Moun- 
tains   408 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Black-robe  in  Oregon — How  the  Black-robb  Dies — Rocky 
Mountains  again — The  March  of  the  Blai'sfeet  towards  the 
Shrine  of  Oub  Lady— Abenaki  and  Flathead  touch  hands..,.  437 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Bboken  Threads— Conclusion 458 


IIKNDS   AT 


1 


HY 


llllO  III 

N(,r(li  A I 
•  '»('  New  ' 

willi,s(,an( 
'  vvliicli  li 

(•0l|(«(ri;i) 

'li;il,iv(;  S( 
R'!v.  Dr. 

N('i(||,;|- 

k'K'VV  tlio 

sioiis. 
Bcliisrii  c^ 

Ibad  trc'o- 
quioiis  P 
Ignited  S 
'•I'liich  tli( 
tie  to  rec( 
Of  Ciirist 
fully  irral 


MI'^MOII 


BY  TIIK  MOST  IMIV.  JOHN   15.   IMIKOKLL,  D.I)., 


AltCIIIIIHriOl*  OK  ('INriNNATI. 


TiiK  iiiitlidr  oI'IIk;  followirif^  liiHt.ory  oC  lJi<!  |)('Vot,i!)ri  to  flio 
ll'.lcHscd  Virgin  Miiry,  jMoIImt  dI"  our  li<ir<l  .Ickiih  CliiiMt,  in 
Ni.ilJi  Aiiicricii,  Itcv.  Doiiiild  Xavicr  Miicl/i'od,  vv.ih  :i  ii!il.iv(; 
lof  New  York,  iiiid  a  corivcrl,  to  tlic  Oalliolic,  (Jliiircli.  .Not/- 
[witliHtaiKliiiL?  \\\*'  ardent,  l(!inp<'r  and  itH|H'tuoMK  clmrafter 
ivvliidi  lio  r(!(;oiv(;d  IVorn  natiiro,  Hooti  aH  lu;  had  linihlicd  IiIh 
(•()ll('<ri!it,o  course  li(!  took  ord(;rH,  as  they  urc,  ejillcfl,  in  tli« 
E|»i,sco|)al  (;'liur(;li,  and  e.\(;rc,iK(:d  niiniKtcrial  functions  in  liiH 
iKiLivo  State!,  and  KuliH<'<|ncntly  as  a  prcsliytcr  of  the  UiM-ht 
Rev.  Dr.  Ivi's,  tli(!  illiislrions  convert.,  in  North  (.';irolina. 
Neitlier  the  bisliop  nor  liis  (Mirat(;  was  satisfierl  In  the 
Anglican  comniunion.  They  had  n.'ad  h(!r  history.  'I'hey 
^new  the  vice  of  her  ori;^'iri,  th(;  liolhiwness  of  her  preten- 
-  (lions.  They  belieUl  lier  sani^'uinary,  sell-inflict.ed  wound  (if 
ichism  ever  bleedinj^.  She  was  for  them  tli»;  Ijad  fruit  of  a 
)bad  tree — the  creation,  or  the  creature,  of  an  Act  of  an  obse- 
quioiis  Parliament;  and  that  neither  in  Enj^hind  nor  in  tlie 
United  States  could  she  assert  her  claim  to  the  marks  by 
which  the  Gos[)el8  and  the  first  four  g'eneral  councils  teach 
IIS  to  recognize  the  one  Holy  CatJKilic  and  Apostolic  Church 
of  Christ.  JJefore  the  minds  of  bishop  and  minister  were 
fully  irradiated  by  the  ever  growing  splendor  of  Catholic 


'it:. 


Memoir. 


I'  I' 


,  ill  ; 

li'iii 
■111 


truth,  they  practised  some  of  the  ordinances  and  rites  pecu- 
liar to  the  old  Church.  Tliey  went  to  confession  to  one 
another  ;  they  gave  each  otlier  salutary  penances.  They 
adorned  their  churches  as  Catholics,  from  time  immemorial, 
had  heen  wont  to  do  on  tho  gniater  festivals ;  and  of  Mr, 
MacLeod,  in  particular,  it  may  be  said  that,  while  the  proofs 
of  the  truth  of  our  holy  faith  satisfied  his  judgtnent,  the 
ajsthetics  of  religion  had  a  special  charm  f(;r  his  soul. 

After  his  abandonment  of  the  ministry  and  religious  opin- 
ions of  the  Reformation,  Afr.  MacLeod,  for  some  years,  de- 
voted his  time  to  literary  pursuits,  writing  books  and 
delivering  Lctures  in  many  of  our  cities.  In  St.  Louis, 
where  he  was,  if  we  mistake  not,  conn(!cted  with  the  edi- 
torial department  of  a  newspaper  or  a  magazine,  he  became 
attached  to  an  accomplished  young  lady  of  the  best  society; 
but,  after  having  gone  even  to  the  altav  njr  the  marriage 
ceremony,  the  match  was  for  some  reason,  for  which  neither 
himself  nor  the  lady  was  to  blame,  suddenly  broken  olf. 
We  have  the  assurance  of  a  higiily  respectable  priest  of  St. 
Louis,  who  was  perfectly  C(jgni/ant  of  all  the  proceedings, 
that  the  conduct  of  Mr.  MacLeod  was  all  that  could  have 
been  expected,  in  the  premises,  from  a  Christian  and  a  man 
of  honor. 

The  world  having  no  longer  any  attractions  for  Mr.  Rfac 
Leod,  he  wrote  to  his  friend,  the  Most  Hev.  7\rchbishop  of 
Cincinnati,  stating  that  he  and  the  world  had  irreconcilably 
quarrelled,  and  reminding  him  of  a  promise,  when  such  an 
eventuality  occurred,  to  take  him  under  his  own  protection 
and  care.  His  request  was  promptly  granted,  and  the  sem- 
inary of  Mount  St.  Mary's  assigned  him  for  his  home.  In 
this  institution  he  continued  several  years,  teaching,  study- 
ing theology,  and  disciplining  his  mind  and  manner,  in  refer- 
ence to  his  aspirations  to  the  priesthood.  Here,  after  mature 
reflection,  he  received  the  clerical  tonsure  and  minor  orders 
on  Thursday,  13th  December,  1860.     lu  March  of  the  fol- 


lowinff 

deacon 

some  til 

togetliei 

and  visi 

of  Paid 

'■    busernei 

privatioi 

lanu'ntec 

at  Sedan 

the  acco 

Esq.,  Su 

iJaiiroad, 

day,  3d  , 

•Tune,  18( 


y     "Ens.  ( 
{.  Saturday 
oftheCa; 
vkill(>d  by 
.'road,  on 
•I     "It  is 
Bad  event 
tc  visit 
„Hnd  fric 
|he  attei 
•the  street 
«ippi,  an 
ftopped 

time,  l:o 
^ft  -1  .shaj'j 

#ie  sigua 


vinoinna 
tilled 


'!!' 

!l'' 

!!li 


Memoir. 


itca  pecu- 
n  to  one 

cs.  Tlioy 
ineinorial, 
ud  of  Mr. 
tlie  prool's 
;inunt,  the 
oul. 

jious  opiu- 
ycars,  dc- 
bouks   and 
St.  Louis, 
th  tlic  cdi- 
he  became 
o.st  society; 
10  marriage 
iiich  neither 
broken  oil'. 
)ricBt  of  St.    . 
)roceedings, 
could  have 
i  and  a  man 

for  Mr,  Uac 
rdibisliop  of 
■roconcilably 
ben  sucli  an 
ni  protection 
ind  the  sem- 
is borne,     bi 
cbing,  study- 
mer,  in  refer- 
after  mature 
minor  orders 
;b  of  the  fol- 


lowing'  year   he   was    ordained    snb-deacon ;    in    October, 
and  priest.     From   the  seminary  bo  continued  for 


deacon 
sonic 


time  to  visit  Sedamsville  and  North  Hend,  collecting- 
together  the  scattered  Catholics,  catechizing  the  children, 
and  visiting  the  sick,  until,  the  little  church  of  St.  Vincent 
of  Faul  being  built,  he  took  up  his  modest  lodgings  in  the 
basement,  where  he  continued,  with(jut  a  murmur,  to  bear 
privations  such  as  fall  to  the  lot  of  but  few  priests,  until  his 
lamented  death.  Of  the  acceptableness  of  his  ministrations 
at  Sedamsville,  and  the  manner  of  his  death,  we  here  insert 
the  account  givfMi  In  his  obituary  written  by  IT.  C.  Lord, 
Esq.,  Superintendent  of  the  Lidianapolis  and  Cincinnati 
llaihoad,  taken  from  the  "  Cincinnati  Com'nercial,"  of  Mon- 
day, 3d  .Tuly, — his  death  having  occurred  on  Friday,  30th 
June,  1865  : 

"  The  Rev.  Donald  MacLeod. 

"  Ens.  Com. — A  short  paragraph  in  the  morning  papers,  of 
|Saturday,  announced  that  the  llev.  Donald  MacLeod,  pastor 
3f  the  Catholic  Church  in  Sedamsville,  had  been  accidentally 
dlled  by  a  train  on  the  Lidianapolis  and  Cincinnati  Rail- 
road, on  Friday  evening. 

"  It  is  proper  for  m(;  to  explain  the  circumstances  of  this 
gad  event.  Father  MacLeod  was,  at  the  time,  on  his  way 
|c  visit  a  poor  woman,  who  was  thought  by  her  husband 
knd  friends  to  be  dangerously  ill,  and  who  had  requested 
pe  attendance  of  her  faithful  pastor.  As  he  turned  into 
le  street  which  crossed  the  roads  of  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
pppi,  and  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  companies,  he  wag 
topped  by  a  passing  train  on  the  former  road.  At  the 
^'^me,  he  was  standing  on  the  track  of  the  latter  road,  and 
ftt  a  sharp  curve.  The  noise  of  the  passing  train  drowned 
i1|ie  signals  of  the  approaching  train  on  the  Indianapolis  and 
ipincinnaii  track.  He  was  struck  by  the  latter  and  instantly 
killed.     He  died  while  on  his  errand  of  duty  and  mercy. 


xu 


Memoir. 


"This  event  has  cast  a  gloom  over  our  littlo  community, 
and  I  ciinnot  liclp  rcforn'iiT^  to  some  of  tlio  poonliar  traits 
of  cliaractor  and  disposition  wliidi  had  endeared  Father 
MacLeod  to  myself  and  so  many  of  his  personal  friends  and 
admirers,  and  to  so  many  of  the  poor  and  laboring  people 
among  whom  he  mingled,  and  by  whom  he  was  so  mncJi 
beloved. 

"  My  acquaintance  with  Father  MacLeod  commenced  but 
a  few  months  ago,  yet  at  the  time  ,/f  his  death  I  knew  him 
well.  I  had  learned  to  appreciate  his  excellent  qualities  of 
heart,  and  to  honor  his  restless  and  vigorous  intellect,  his 
independent  judgment,  his  fine  scholarship,  and  his  great 
learning.  He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  energy.  In  look- 
ing after  the  necessities  of  his  little  church,  in  hunting  tip 
the  needy  and  destitute,  in  ministering  to  tlnnr  wants,  in 
consoling  the  sick,  in  cheering  on  the  well,  working  as  will- 
ingly by  night  as  by  day,  in  the  rain  and  under  the  glare 
of  the  sun,  he  never  seemed  fatigued  or  tired  of  his  mission. 
•Whatever  he  had  to  do  he  did  cheerfully  and  with  all  his 
might.  Hundreds  of  section-men  and  laborers  on  the  two 
roads  between  Cincinmiti  and  Lawronceburg  will  bear  testi- 
mony to  their  knowledge  of  him,  and  to  his  knowledg(^  of 
them ;  to  their  love  and  respect  for  the  positive,  yet  good- 
natured  priest,  to  his  unfailing  kindness  to  them  and  to 
their  households,  and  to  his  '-flucnce  and  control  over  them, 
which  nev<'r  lost  its  hold. 

"  Father  MacLeod  was  a  man  of  rare  independence  of 
judgment.  He  never  adopted  the  opinions  of  others,  but  held 
them  subject  to  a  severe  analj'sis,  and  only  accepted  them 
when  they  accorded  with  his  own  well-defined  convictions. 
Whatever  position  he  took,  whether  in  the  Church  or  ag  a 
citizen,  he  took  conscientiously  and  with  determination,  and 
upon  his  own  judgment,  and  he  would  recoguixe  no  hui/u'ii 
authority  as  above  his  own  conscience  or  the  conclusions  of 
his  own  intellect. 


speak 

that  d( 

sacred 

•ancient 

itnd  the 

varied  ; 

same  he 

author 

Scots'  d 

heautifu 

tliunked 

t^ated  the 

liistory. 

"Buti 

[father  M 

|of  strong 

put  his  in, 

-control  hii 

word  andl 

hhn  alwaj 

serve  andl 

engine  thi 

ftnd  vigorJ 

great  and) 

^«iii't,  andl 


The  wril 

that  the  cj 

deceased 

«  bytho^ 

JjUman  auli 

•Ribjocts  oj 

Ohurch  auf 


Memoir. 


xiu 


nullity, 

r  traits 

Father 

uds  aiul 

jo  nnic-li 

i\cc(l  but     , 
new  him 
luVitioa  of 
iUcct,  his 
his  gi'fiiit 

In  look- 
unting  up 
wants,  in 
ng  as  will- 
•  the  glare     | 
is  mission. 
vith  all  his 
on  the  two 
bear  testi- 
lowledgo  of 
P,  yet  gooJ- 
loni  aiul  to 

over  th(Mii, 

jicndence  of 
era,  but  held 
cepted  them 
convictions, 
lurch  or  as  a 
liinalion,  ai'd 
/,o  no  l;VvPU'ii 
i>uclaeiou3  of 


"  Father  MacLeod  was  a  man  of  rare  learning.  I  do  not 
Hpeak  of  him  as  a  theologian,  nor  of  his  acquirements  in 
that  department  of  knowledge,  but  as  a  master  of  history, 
sacred  and  profane,  of  political  economy,  of  many  languages, 
ancient  and  modern,  of  natural  philoisophy,  geology,  botany, 
and  their  kindred  sciences.  Uis  acquirements  were  equally 
varied  and  substantial ;  and  I  have  often  heard  him,  in  the 
same  hour,  instruct  a  wise  man  and  delight  a  child.  As  an 
author  he  was  well  known,  and  his  life  of  'Mary  Queen  of 
Scots'  drew  from  Washington  Irving  a  most  touching  and 
beautiful  letter  of  commendation,  in  which  that  gifted  man 
thanked  our  friend  for  liaving  so  ably  and  generously  vindi- 
cated the  character  of  a  sulferiug  woman  and  the  truth  of 
history. 

"  But  it  is  to  the  genial  traits  and  generous  friendship  of 

[Father  MacLeod  that  I  love  most  to  refer.     lie  was  a  man 

[of  strong  impulses,  quick,  and  sometimes  violent  temper ; 

[but  his  impulses  were  generous,  and  he  ever  struggled  to 

Icontrol  his  temper,  and  was  always  ready  to  recall  an  unkind 

Iword  and  to  correct  a  false  impression.     A  kind  word  to 

lim  always  brought  a  kind  word  from  him,  and  he  loved  to 

serve  and  defend  his  friends.     It  was  a  cruel  and  merciless 

Engine  that,  with  its  terrible  blow,  shattered  that  manly 

jmd  vigorous  frame,  and  in  an  instant  of  time  stunned  the 

freat  and  restless  brain,  stilled  the  loving  and  generous 

heart,  and  released  the  spirit  of  Donald  MacLeod. 

"  H.  C.  Lord." 

The  writer  of  this  notice  is  not  a  Catholic.  But  it  shows 
that  the  character,  the  acquirements,  and  the  talents  of  the 
deceased  were  appreciated  and  admired  by  others  as  well 
[|t  by  those  of  his  own  Church.  The  independence  of  all 
hliman  authority  so  justly  claimed  for  him,  was  confined  to 
wabjccts  of  a  merely  human  or  secular  description.  Tc 
Ohurch  authority,  in  which  he  recognized  the  authority  of 


|m' 


XIV 


Memoir. 


God,  ho  waw  at  ull  tiiiKis  ainiMiiiblo.  To  hor  docisions  ho 
suliiiiittcd, — if  with  a  roasoiuug-  and  a  roasonabk'  convictiui; 
of  his  clear  and  vin^orons  intcHoct,  yet  with  tho  childliki; 
fiirnplicity  which  tan-iht  him  that,  when  (Jod  Rpcaks  thronpjh 
an  infallible  tribunal,  it  is  the  enlij^htcned  Christian's  duty 
to  listen  and  to  obey. 

Devotion  to  the  lilessed  Virgin,  and  zeal  for  her  honor, 
was  a  ruling  passion  of  the  soul  of  Rev.  Mr.  MacLeod,  lie 
was  her  client,  hir  son,  her  knig-ht,  her  priest.  The  "Le- 
gends of  IToly  Mary"  and  "  Our  Tiady  of  Litanies"  preceded 
the  beautiful  "  History  ot  the  Devotion  to  Mary  in  North 
America,"  which  we  now  present  to  our  readers.  But  an- 
other proof  of  his  veneration  for  the  Innnaculato  may  aptly 
llnd  its  place  here.  The  first  sermon  he  preached  after  his 
ordination  was  on  the  purity  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  The 
choice  of  this  subject  was  probably  suggested  by  tho  piibli 
cation  of  a  tractate  calhid  "James,  the  Lord's  brother,"  by 
(me  Chauncey  Fitch,  an  Epis(!opalian  minister  of  Piqua, 
Miami  County,  Ohio.  The  object  of  this  tractate  was  to 
show  that  Mary  had  other  sons  besides  the  Lord.  It  was 
highly  recommended  by  the  Episcopal  bishop,  Mcllvaine,  of 
Ohio,  The  bishop  thus  speaks  of  it  in  a  letter  to  Rev.  Dr. 
Anthon,  editor  of  the  "  New  York  Protestant  Churchman  :" 

"  Rev.  and  Deak  Sir — I  believe  you  know  soraetliing  of  a  trac- 
tate which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fitch  of  Ohio  has  written  on  '  James,  the 
Lord's  brother.'  He  has  recently  completed  a  full  carrying  out  of  the 
argument,  and  made,  I  think,  a  very  conclusive  proof  that  James  was 
the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary,  and  really,  literally,  the  Lord's  brother. 
It  upsets  the  whole  Mariolatry,  and  all  her  claims  to  supremacy 
through  Peter.  .  .  I  believe  it  would  be  as  good  an  article  in  tlie 
Romish  controversy  as  we  could  publish. 

"  Yours,  aflFectionately,  C.  P.  McIlvaine. 

"  Cincinnati,  Jan.  19,  1857." 


:iiih 


Commenting  on  this  letter  of  the  bishop,  Father  MacLeod 


.ill: 


Memoir. 


XV 


Diivictior. 
chiMlikn 
i  llirouffli 
All's  duty 

lei-  honor, 
jood.     lit! 
The  "  L<!- 
'  prec(Ml(,'fl 
r  in  North 
I.     But  an- 
rnuy  aptly 
•d  after  his 
rlary.    The 
y  tho  puhli 
)rothcr,"  by 
r  (tf  Piq"i>, 
ate  was  to 
rd.     It  was 
cUvaine,  oi" 
to  Hov.  Dr. 
[irchinan :" 

ling  of  a  trac- 
0,  '  James,  the 
ing  oat  of  tho 
hat  James  was 

,ord'B  brother. 

to  supremacy 
article  in  the 

McItVAINE. 


;her  MacLeod 


remarks,   in    a    printed    refutation  of    Fitch's   theory,   as 
follows  : 

"MARY  EVER  VIRGIN."' 

That  Catholics  maj  ^eo  and  know  how  unfailhful  and 
utterly  false  to  the  principles  of  tlicir  own  creed  are  lead- 
ing E|)iscopuIians,  we  reprint  in  this  form  a  letter  from  an 
Episcopalian  to  tho  "Catholic  Telcgra[)li,"  January  22,  1859, 
\vliich  sets  forth  the  real  teachinj^s  of  the  Episcopal  body 
on  the  subject  of  the  p'-rpotual  Virg'inity  of  tho  Mother  of 

I  our  Lord.     The  letter   being  a  contribution,  we  shall  not 
change  it,  but  print  it  as  it  came  to  us. 

Now  this  same  Bishop  of  Ohio  (!)  disbelieves,  if  he  had 

I  any  religious  belief  or  disbelief  at  all,  the  wIujIc  contents  of 
Fitch's  emanation.  That  same  Bishop  of  Ohio,  in  connnon 
iwith  all  other  bishops  of  tho  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
assigned  Dr.  Gilbert  Pearson's  Exposition  of  tho  Creed  as  the 
only  standard  dogmatic  work  in  his  communion,  as  tlie  one 
dogmatic  guide  of  his  theological  students,  and  as  t!i(;  (ej:t- 
book  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary  in  New  York.  If 
he  do  not  believe  with  Pearson,  he  is  false  to  his  trust  and 
position  in  giving  such  a  work  to  his  students  ;  if  he  do, 
he,  by  his  approval  of  Fitch  for  the  sake  of  a  dirty  insult 
^to  Roman  Catholics,  has  carried  dishonoriible  T)asrness  to  an 
"(pxtent  of  which  his  is  the  only  example.  Furthermore,  by 
ao  doing,  he  not  only  denies  the  common  faith  of  all  Chris- 
tians and  tho  applicability  of  tho  passages  from  the  proph- 
ets universally  applied  to  our  Lord,  but  also  shows  an 
Ignorance  of  the  mere  letter  of  Scripture,  which  may  be 
<|^rdonable  in  an  Episcopalian  Bishop,  but  which  should  be 
•  reasonable  caus(>  of  degradation  to  the  assistant  sexton  in 
iftHard  Shell  Baptist  Conventicle. 

>M|The  book  from  which  I  quote  is  "An  Exposition  of  the 
:^eed,  by  John  Pearson,  Bishop  of  Chester  (in  the  16th  cen- 
liiry).  NewYork  :  Appleton&Co.    1857."    It  is  as  follows  : 


'M 


m 


XVI 


MKMoin. 


"  Tliii'dly,  We  Ix-lii'vo  tlic  iiiotlicr  of  our  Lord  to  ham  been, 
not  onhj  hrj'oi'c  and  oftcr  Iiik  riafiuifi/,  but  also  fort'i'rr,  lit)'. 
most,  imniacnlnh:  and  hlcxxcd  Viff/in.  For  iiltlioiiyli  it  may 
bo  thoii^'lit  Hiiniciciit  hh  to  tlio  mystery  oF  tlio  iiic'iriiation, 
tliiit  wlif'd  oiir  Siivioiir  was  (Muiccivcd  and  born,  his  niotlicr 
was  a  viij^iii  ;  thoiitfli  wiiatsoovcr  Hlioiild  liav(!  lollovvod 
al'ttT,  coidd  have!  no  rcllt'ctivo  operation  upon  tho  lirst-iVuit 
of  hor  womb  ;  though  there  be  no  further  inenlion  in  the 
CuKici),  than  that  lie  was  born  of  I  hi;  Virgin  Jifari/ :  yet  the  pe- 
cubar  eniineney  and  unparabeled  privih'ijfe  of  that  motlier,  thr; 
B[)ecial  honor  and  reverencu;  d\w  unto  that  Son,  and  ever 
paid  by  ii(;r,  tiie  regani  of  that  Holy  (ihost  wiio  came  u[)on 
her,  and  the  power  of  the  Highest  who  overshadowed  lier, 
the  singuhir  goinbiess  and  piety  of  Joseph,  to  whom  she 
was  espoused,  have  persuaded  the  Church  of  God  in  all  ages 
to  believe  that  she  slill  conlinued  in  the  same  virginity,  and 
tberefor(>  is  to  be  acknowledged  the  Evi^r-Virf/in,  H/avj/.  As 
if  th(!  gate  of  the  sanctuary  in  tluf  prophet  I<]/.ekiel  were  to 
be  understood  of  lu  r  :  '  This  gate  shall  be  shut,  it  shall  not 
be  opened,  and  no  nan  shall  enter  in  by  it ;  because  the 
Lord,  tho  God  of  Isiael,  hath  entered  in  by  it,  therefore  it 
shall  be  shut.'     (E/.'k.  xliv.  2.) 

"Many,  indeed,  have  tak(!n  tho  boldness  to  deny  this 
truth  because  not  recorded  in  the  sacred  writ;  and  not  only 
so,  but  to  assert  the  contrary  as  delivered  in  the  Scriptures  ; 
but  with  no  success.  For  though,  as  thoy  object,  St.  Mat 
thew  testifietli  that  Joseph  '  knew  not  Mary,  until  she  had 
brought  forth  her  first-born  son'  (Matt.  i.  25),  from  wheiico 
they  infer,  that  afterwards  he  knew  her  ;  yet  the  manner  ut 
the  Scripture  language  produceth  no  such  inference.  Wiicii 
God  said  to  Jacob,  '  I  will  not  leave  thee  until  I  have  done 
that  which  I  have  spoken  to  thee  of  (Gen.  xxiii.  15),  it  fol- 
lowcth  uot  that  when  that  was  done,  tho  God  of  Jacob  left 
him.  When  liio  conclusion  of  Deuteronomy  was  written,  it 
was  said  of  Moses,  '  No  man  knoweth  of  his  sepulchre  unto 


j«>i 


Memoir. 


XTii 


/mvi'  hcvn, 
i,ri'i't'i\  Ihc 
rli  it  limy 
icurniitioii, 
liirt  inotlii.T 
«    lulloweil 
L!  lirst-lVnit 
lioii  in  tii(! 
yot  the  pi!- 
inotlicr,  tlu! 
Ti,  and  cvfi- 

civnio  iijtnii 
(lowed  licr, 

whom  hIic 
I  ill  all  uj,'Ort 
i-H-inity,  and 


to  d(Miy  this 
and  not  only 
Scriptnrcs  ; 
j(>ct,  St.  Mat 
lutil  she  hail 
Von»  whence 
le  manner  ui 
cnce.    When 
1  I  have  done 
ii.  15),  it  fol- 
f)t'  Jacob  left 
as  written,  it 
ipulchre  uutu 


this  day'  (Dent,  xxxiv.  r»)  ;  hnt  it  were  a  weak  arfrnrnent 
to  infer  from  tlience,  ihid  Ihe  sepnh'lire  of  MoHeH  hath  been 
known  ever  Hiiiee.  ^VIlen  Samnel  had  delivered  a  Hevero 
preclietion  nnto  Siinl,  he  'ciime  no  more  to  Hce  liim  tintil  llin 
day  of  liis  death'  (1  Sam.  .w.  '{f))  ;  Iml  it  were  a  Htran^'o 
colleelion  to  infer,  liiat  hi;  therefore  paid  liin)  a  visit  after 
he  was'dead.  '  Miehid,  tii<'  dini;^ht(n'  of  Sanl,  had  no  child 
until  the  diiy  of  her  death'  (2  Sam.  vi.  23)  ;  and  yet  it 
were  a  ridienlons  Htiipidity  to  drenm  of  any  nddwifery  in 
th(!  f:;ra70.  ChriKf  f)romiwed  his  preseiiee  to  tlie  apostles 
'unto  the  end  f>f  the  worhi'  (Matt,  xxviii.  20)  ;  wiio  ever 
made  so  happy  a  constrimtion  as  to  iid'er  from  thence,  that 
forever  after  ho  wo(dd  bo  absent  from  them  ? 

"i\f?ain,  it  is  true  that  Chrid  is  termed  \\\v.fird-horn  mn 
of  Mar]i,  from  whence  they  infer  she  mnst  needs  liave  a 
second  ;  but  they  mijrlit  as  well  conelnde,  that  wheresoever 
tlier(>  is  one,  then;  mnst  he  two.  For  in  tliis  particular  tho 
Scripture  notion  of  priority  exeltidetii  an  antecedent,  but 
inferreth  not  a  consequent ;  it  supjxjseth  none  to  have  p;'(me 
before,  but  concluded  not  any  to  follow  after.  '  Sanctify 
unto  ni(!  [saith  God]  all  the  first-born  ;'  which  was  a  firm 
and  iixed  law,  immeiliately  obli;;'infi^  upon  the  birth  ; 
whereas  if  the  first-born  had  included  a  relation  to  a 
se( ond,  tJK-re  could  have  b(!en  no  present  certainly,  btit  a 
8Usp(>nsion  of  obedience  ;  nor  had  tho  first-born  been  sanc- 
tifif^l  of  itself,  but  the  second  birth  had  sanctified  tho  first. 
And  well  miylit  any  sacrilegious  Jew  have  kept  back  the 
I  price  of  redemption  du(!  unto  tho  priest,  nor  could  it  have 
i  been  required  of  him,  till  a  second  offsprinj^  had  appeared  ; 
I  and  so  no  re;lemption  at  all  had  been  required  for  an  only 
son.  Whereas  all  such  pr(>tcnccs  wore  unheard  of  in  tho 
Law,  because  the  original  Hebrew  word  is  not  capable  of 
any  such  construction  ;  and  in  the  Law  itself  it  carrieth 
with  it  a  clear  interpretation,  '  Sanctify  unto  me  all  the 
firHt-born  ;  whatsoever  openeth  the  womb  among  the  chil- 


xviH 


IMemotr. 


ihvu  of  Tsiacl,  hotli  of  man  and  beast,  it  is  mini 


(K\.m1. 


xiii.  2.)  The  apcrtion  of  tli(!  womb  (Ictcrmincil  tlic  (lisl- 
born  ;  iiiid  the  biw  of  nMlcmntion  cxcbiilitli  all  Hnrli  Ici- 
j^iv«;rHiifion  :  '  TIiomo  tliat  an;  n;(l(!('m('(l,  from  a  nionlli  old 
tlioii  wlialt  ic'dcom'  (?Viiml».  xviii.  1(5)  ;  li<»  slayin;;-  to  mako 
U|)  the  relation,  no  ex|»e(;tin;;"  another  biiUi  to  peil'ect  tin; 
reibimption.  I'lein;^-  then  'they  broii;^'lit  our  Sar.iuiir  to 
Jerusalem  to  present  him  to  th(3  liord,  us  it  is  written  in 
Luw  of  the  fiord'  (f.nke,  ii.  22,  2:5),  it  is  evident  that  la- 
was  called  the  firrtt-born  of  Mary  aeoorditi'^  to  tin'  notion  of 
tho  Fiaw  of  Nfoses,  and  conscMjiiently  that  tithi  inf(,'rr<.'tli  no 
Hiiccessioii,  nor  provotli  tho  mother  to  liavo  any  other 
uflsprin;^-. 

"  Indeed,  as  they  thirdly  object,  it  cannot  bi-  deni<Ml  bat 
that  w(!  read  expn-ssly  in  tlu?  Scri|)tiire3  of  tlu;  brethren  of 
our  Loril  :  'lie  went  down  to  Capei'naiim,  he,  and  his 
motlier,  and  his  brethren'  (John,  ii.  12),  and,  '  While  he 
talkecl  nnto  the  peojde  his  motlier  and  his  brethren  stooil 
without,  (lesirinjj;  to  speak  with  him.'  (.Nfatt.  xii.  4().)  Ibit 
ulthough  his  mother  and  his  brethren  be  named  together, 
yet  tliey  arc  never  called  the  B<)n8  of  his  mother  ;  and  the 
question  is  not  whether  Christ  had  any  bn;tlu'"n,  but 
wli(;tlier  his  motla-r  brought  forth  any  other  chililre'ii.  It 
is  possible  Joseph  might  have  had  children  before  Mary  was 
ospous(Hl  to  him  ;  and  then,  as  li(>  was  reputed  ami  called 
our  Saviour's  latlair,  so  might  they  well  be  accounted  and 
called  his  brethren,  as  the  ancient  fathers,  especially  of  the 
Greek  Church,  have  tauglit.  Nor  need  wo  thus  asscM't 
that  Joseph  had  any  oilsiniiig,  because  the  language  <jf 
the  Jews  includeth  in  the  name  of  hrdhrcn  not  only  the 
strict  relation  of  fraternity,  but  also  the  larger  f)f  consan- 
guinity ;  and  then^fore  it  is  sudicient  satisfaction  for  that 
expression,  that  there  were  such  persons  alli';d  unto  tlio 
Blessed  Virgin.  'We  be  brethren'  (Gen.  xiii.  8),  said 
Abraham  uutu  Lot :  when  Abraham  was  tho  sun  of  Terah, 


■  •m 


Mof  J\far\ 
^Stlum 

•frMary? 

Judas 

liftverc^  m 

'^'Iwore  a 

fji^omen 

the  mot 

this  Ma 

'x^r  Lor( 

\JepnIeln 

::#nd  it 

ipo   bod^ 

Jertainl_) 

lbs  sejm. 


Mb^MOIIl. 


XII 


(KxoJ. 
i(>  firrtt- 
icli   l<'l'- 
nth  old 
III  miik(3 
lee  I  till! 
;/(»«/•    to 
•iUcii  ill 

tli;it  lie 

lotinll    of 

rrotli  iii> 

.,, it'll   l>n< 
t-cthi'cn  I't' 
,   iiml    liis 
Whilr    Iw 
IH'II    stoixl 

■tC).)      H"*' 
,  l();j,-cthrr, 

;   ulld  tlio 

tin  '11,    Ixit 

Mrcii.     It 

Min-ywiis 

and  ciill'''^ 
)Uiitt'(l  iiiid 
ally  of  the 

luiH     UHSOrt 

iiiguag'C  of 

t  oidy  tlio 

of  cotisun- 

on  for  tluit 

.d  unto  tlie 

ii.    8),   BiiiLl 

ijn  of  Tcrah, 


V 


Lot  nf  TTiiniii,  urid  cniiMcrinciifly  mil  IiIh  bnifluT,  but  his 
tic|)ii('\v,  anil,  as  clsciwlwrc  iiropi'rly  styli'd,  '  the  Hon  of  hirt 
lii'dlliiT.'  (Hi'M.  xii.  T).)  '  iNfoHi'H  calli'd  AfiHiiacI  and  Kl/a- 
|ihan,  till-  HiinH  of  U///i(,'l  tlio  iincli'  of  Aaron,  and  Haid  unto 
tlii'in,  Ci.Mii!  nour,  carry  your  itrcfhrcn  frntn  li*'fiiro  liio  Haiu;- 
tiiary'  (lii.'V.  x.  4)  ;  whcrcuH  thoso  Im'tiircn  were  Niidiib 
and  Aliiliii,  tin;  Bona  not  of  Uzzifl  but  of  Aaron.  'Jacob 
tnld  liaclii'l  that  ho  was  hi'r  fath(M''H  brother,  iind  that  ho 
was  ili'bckairs  Hon'  (fJon.  xxix.  l2)  ;  wlicrcaH,  Itebckah 
was  till'  sister  of  Uachel's  fathe.-.  It  is  sunieient,  ther(!- 
fiire,  that  the  evang'elists,  aei'ordin<?  to  the  constiint  lan- 
giia^i!  of  tho  Jows,  called  tho  K'linired  of  tho  Blessed  Vir- 
}i,in  tho  brethren  and  wisterH  of  her  only  son  ;  whieli  indeed 
i.-i  soMiethinjj  tho  lator,  but  tho  most  generally  approved 
answer. 

"And  yet  this  diflicMdty,  thou;^h  usiuilly  no  further  con- 
sideied,  is  not  fnlly  cleared  ;  for  thoy  which  inipuj^ned  tho 
perfietnal  virginity  of  tho  mother  of  our  Lord,  urged  it  fur- 
ther, pretending   that  as  the  Scriptures   called   them   the 
brethren  of  Christ,  so  they  also  showed  them  to  bo  tho  sons 
of  Mary,  tho  mother  of  Chrid,     For  llrst  tho  Jews  express 
till  in  particularly  by  their  names,  'Is  not  his  mother  called 
„Mary  ?  and  his  brethren,  James,  and  Joses,  and  Simon,  and 
^Judas  V     (Matt.  xiii.  55.)     Therefore,  James   and   Joses 
ore  undoubtedly  the  brethren  of   Christ,  and  tho   same 
ere  also  as  unquestionably  sons  of  Mary  :  for  among  the 
omen  at  the  cross  wo  find   'Mary  Magdalono  and  Mary 
the  motlier  of  James  and  Joses.'     (Matt,  xxvii.  5G.)    Again, 
this  Mary,  they  think,  can  bo  no  other  than  the  Mother  of 
Ipur  Lord,  because  they  find  her  early  in  tho  morning  at  the 
■|epnlchro  with  Mary  Magdalene  and  Salome  (Mark,  xvi.  1)  ; 
;|ind  it  is  not  probable  that  any  should  have  more  care  of 
|jiio  body  of  the  son  than  the  mother.     She  then  who  was 
jiertainly  present  at  the  cro.sx,  was  not  probably  absent  from 
\|h3  sepulchre;  wherefore,  they  conclude,  she  was  the  mother 


■,>-ni» 


zz 


Memoir. 


of  Chrif^t,  wlio  was  the  motliei"  of  James  and  Joses,  the 
brethr(>n  of  Chrid. 

"  And  now  tlie  nrij^ing  of  this  arg-umeiit  will  produce  a 
greater  clearness  in  the  solution  of  the  questioii.  For  if  it 
appear  that  Mary  the  mother  of  Jam(!S  and  Joses  was  dilfcir- 
ent  and  distinj;"iiished  from  Mary  the  Virgin,  then  will  it 
also  be  ajiparent  that  the  brethren  of  our  Lord  were  the 
sons  of  another  mother,  for  James  and  Joses  were  so  calK'd. 
But  we  read  in  St.  John,  that  'there  stood  by  the  cross  of 
Jesus,  his  mother  and  his  mother's  sister,  Mary  the  wife  of 
Cleophas,  and  Mary  Mag-dalene.'  (John,  xix.  25.)  In  the 
rest  of  the  evanj^elists  we  fhid  at  the  same  place,  '  Mary 
Magdalene  and  Mary  the  mother  of  James  and  Joses'  (Matt. 
xxviii.  56  ;  Mark,  xv.  40);  and  again  at  the  sepulchre,  '  Maiy 
Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary'  (Matt,  xxviii.  1)  ;  where- 
fore that  other  3fari/,  by  the  conjunction  of  these  testimcmies, 
appeareth  to  '  '■  JFanj,  the  wife  of  Gteophof^,  and  the  mother  of 
James  and  Jo.^es;  and  consequently  James  and  Joses,  the 
brethren  of  our  Lord,  were  ?)ot  the  sons  of  Mary  his  mother, 
but  of  the  other  Mary,  and  therefore  called  his  brethren  ac- 
cording to  the  language  of  the  Jews,  because  that  the  other 
Mary  was  the  sister  of  his  mother. 

"  Notwithstanding,  therefore,  all  these  pretensions,  there 
can  be  nothing  found  to  raise  the  least  suspicion  of  any 
interruption  of  the  ever  Blessed  Mary's  perpetual  virginity. 
For  as  she  was  a  virgin  when  she  conceived,  and  aft(.T 
she  brought  forth  our  Saviour  ;  so  did  she  continue  in  tlic 
same  state  and  condition,  and  was  commended  by  oiu' 
Saviour  to  his  beloved  disciple,  as  a  mother  only  now  of  an 
adopted  son. 

"The  consideration  of  all  which  will  at  last  ii^ad  us  to  a 
clear  explication  of  this  latter  branch  of  the  Article,  ivhere- 
by  every  Christian  may  inform  himself  that  he  is  hound  to 
profess,  and  being  informed,  fully  express  what  is  the  ob- 
ject of  his  faith  in  this  particular,  when  he  saith,  I  believe 


i 


ill  Jei 

hereb; 

this  iu 

ccrtaii 

Joseph 

was  a 

in  the  .* 

noly  C 

Son  of 

.    brough 

most  2)1 

the  woi 

the  leas 

deliver 

,    was  of  t 

■^  his  thro 

profess  i 

We  h 
}^  man,"  oi 
discredit 
impudeul 
text-bo(J 
ipublishol 
^  anybodyj 
'  begins 
"Mary,"  J 
"The  C(J 
the   preci 
"Motlieil 
Imiiacul^ 
^     From 
/urther 

i 

•     "The 


Memoir. 


XXI 


M\nco  a 
^)r  if  it 
18  dilTi!!-- 
i  will  it 
voro  ilio 
io  calU'tl. 

CVf)SS  of 

le  wifo  of 

I  In  the 
;e,  '  Muiy 
us'  (Matt. 
re, '  Miuy 
)  ;  wlievc- 
stimoTiios, 
;  mother  of 
Joses,  the 
lis  inotlicr, 
rolluon  ac- 

the  other 

ions,  thove 
ion  of  any 

II  virginity. 
and  afl'.'V 

tinuc  in  llw 
led  l)y  0"!' 
,r  now  of  an 

load  us  to  a 
•tide,  ^chcre- 
is  hound  to 
t  is  llic  ob- 
itli,  I  bolicve 


in  Jesus  Christ  who  was  horn  of  the  Virgin  .Vary.  For 
hoi-eby  ho  is  concc'wcA  to  intend  thus  much:  I  asaont  unto 
this  as  a  most  cortain  and  infallible  trnth,  tliat  thorn  was  a 
certain  woman,  known  by  tiie  name  of  J/a?-//,  (!spon.scd  unto 
Josq^h  of  Nazareth,  which  before  and  after  her  e.s[)oii.sals 
was  a  pure  and  unspotted  vir<,^in,  and  Ixuikj  and  coidlnuuui 
in  the  mnw  vinjinity,  did,  by  the  immediate  operation  of  the 
Iloly  Ghost,  conceive  within  her  woud)  tlu;  only-begotten 
Son  of  God,  and,  after  the  natural  time  of  other  women, 
brought  him  forth  as  her  llrst-born  son,  conlimring  .^tilt  a 
most  x>ure  and  immaeulate  virgin  ;  wlKsreby  the  Saviour  of 
the  world  was  born  of  a  woman  under  tlie  Law,  without 
the  least  pretence  of  any  original  corruption,  that  he  nn'ght 
deliver  us  from  the  guilt  of  sin  ;  born  of  that  Virgin  which 
was  of  the  house  and  lineage  of  David,  that  he  miglit  sit  upon 
his  throne,  and  ride  for  evermore.  And  in  this  latitude  I 
^  profess  to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  noR.v  of  the  Viugi.v  AIauy." 

We  have  a  word  to  add  to  this.  "  The  Western  Cluirch- 
iinan,"  organ  of  the  Episcopalians  here,  endeavored  to  cast 
discredit  upon  the  above  quotations.  Now  this  was  sheer 
impudenoo.  The  book  is  not  (mly  an  Episcoi)al  dogmatic 
text-book,  but  it  is  their  only  one.  The  title  and  the 
'  publisher's  name  are  given  above,  and  may  be  verified  by 
anybody  who  chooses  to  take  the  trouble.  Tiie  (juotation 
begins  upon  page  263,  Article  III.,  "Born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,"  and  is  unbroken  to  the  last  paragraph,  begimiing, 
"The  consideration  of  all  which,"  etc.  Between  that  and 
the  preceding  matter,  intervenes  the  proof  of  the  title 
"  Mother  of  God,"  and  of  the  absolute  necessity  of  Mary's 
Immaculacy  to  the  Incarnation. 

From  this  intervening  and  very  brief  portion  we  add  one 
further  quotation  to  those  given  above  : 

:||    "  The  necessity  of  believing  our  Saviour  thus  to  be  born 


zxu 


Memoir. 


of  the  Virgin  Mary,  will  iipp(;ar  bolli  in  vospcct  of  lior  wlio 
was  the  ^Fotlior,  and  of  llim  who  was  tho  Son.  Tn  respect 
of  her  it  was  ncjcessary,  that  wi:  might  PKuriiTriAM-Y  ruKSKKvio 

AX  KSTHKM  OK  II KK  I'KltSON    I'UOrOUTIONABI.E  TO  SO  IIKMI  A  DIONITY. 

It  was  her  own  prediction,  '  Fkom  nKNCKFoinii  am.  (!i;nkra- 
TioNS  smai,l  call  mk  liLKssKD,'  (Lukc,  i.  IS);  bnt  tills  obligation 
is  onrs,  to  cam,  heu,  to  estkkm  hk.u  so.  If  Elizabc^th  cried  out 
with  so  loud  a  voice,  '  JJi.esskd  art  thou  amonc  womex/  when 
Christ  was   but  newly  conceived   in  her  womb  ;  what  kx- 

PRESSIOXS    01-'    HOXOU    AXD    OV    ADMIRATION    CAN  WE    THIXK    SUFEI- 

ciENT  now  that  Christ  is  in  Heaven  and  that  mother  with 
Him  !  Far  be  It  from  any  Christian  to  derogate  from  that 
special  privileg'e  gran.cd  unto  her,  whicli  is  incomnninica- 
ble  to  any  other.  We  caxxot  ijear  too  reverext  a  ue(;ari) 
unto  the  Mother  of  our  Lord,  so  lonc,  as  we  give  h(>r 
not  THAT  worship  which  is  duo  unto  the  Lord  Himself." 
—P.  272. 

God  grant  that  these  words  of  old  Bishop  Pearson  may 
influen(;(!  the  hearts  of  his  pretended  co-religionists  here,  if 
not  to  less  hatred  of  the  Cirarcli,  at  least  to  respect  and 
sense  of  propriety  and  decency  towards  her  whom  their 
Prayer-book  calls  the  "  Blessed  Virgin  Mary." 

We  cainiot  resist  the  desire  of  embodying  in  this  notice 
of  the  eloquent  defender  of  !N[ary's  prerogative,  the  beauti- 
ful tribute  to  the  efi'ect  of  mediaival  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  for  Avhich  wc  are  indebted  to  a  very  com- 
pulsory wituiiss  indeed,  "  Lccky's  Kationalism  in  Europe,'' 
vol.  ii.,  pp.  224,  225.  The  reader  will  perceive  that  only  an 
eromy  and  a  bigot  would  use  the  words  "benighted  and 
monkish"  in  such  connection. 


charact(j 

the  Iov(J 

glories 

vigils  ill 

ii  her  belli 

rous  res] 

«■  tastes  dl 

;|:  in  inanj'i 

H'-best  in  1 

intiijy  ofl 

pp.  225,  f 


"  The  worl  I  is  governed  by  its  ideals,  and  seUh^m  or 
never  has  there  been  one  which  has  exercised  a  more  pro- 
found and,  ou  the  whole,  a  more  salutary  influence  than  the 


Memoir. 


xxiu 


icr  who 
rospoct 

■UKSKIIVI? 
DIGNITY. 
(iKNKUA- 

^riod  ovit 


:n/ 


when 


WHAT    KX- 

S'lC    SUFKI- 

tliur  with 
tVoin  that 
nununicii- 

'  A  KK(iAUI) 

fvive   her 
lliinsolf." 


ivson  may 
its  hi'vc,  if 
spoct  and 
liniu   theiv 

this  notice 

th(!  boanti- 

on   to   tlic 

very  com- 

11  Europo," 

;it  only  an 

iy-htcd  anil 


niodiocval  conception  of  the  Virgin.  For  tlio  first  titno  woman 
was  clcvat(!d  to  her  riglitfnl  position,  and  the  sanctity  of 
weakness  was  recognized  as  well  as  the  sanctity  of  sorrow. 
No  lonji^er  the  slave  or  toy  of  man,  no  longer  associated 
only  witli  ideas  of  degradation  and  sensnalily,  woman  rose, 
in  the  person  of  the  Virgin  Mother,  into  a  new  sphere,  and 
became  tJie  object  of  a  reverential  homage  of  which  anti- 
(piity  had  had  no  conception.  Love  was  idealized.  Tiie  moral 
charm  and  beauty  of  female  excellence  was,  for  the  first 
time,  felt.  A  new  type  of  character  was  called  into  being, 
a  new  kind  of  admiration  was  fostered.  Into  a  hai'sh  and 
ignorant  and  beniglited  age  this  ideal  typo  infused  a  con- 
cei)ti()n  of  g(;ntl(;n(;ss  and  of  piu'ity  unknown  to  tiie  proudest 
civilization  of  the  past.  In  the  pages  of  living  tenderness, 
wliich  many  a  monkish  writer  has  left  in  honor  of  his  c(!les- 
tial  patron  ;  in  the  niillicms  who  in  many  lands  and  in  many 
ages  have  sougiit  with  no  barren  desire  to  mould  their 
cimracters  into  Iier  image  ;  in  those  lioly  maidens  who,  for 
the  love  of  Mauv,  have  se|)arat('d  themselves  from  all  the 
glories  and  pleasures  of  the  world,  to  seek  in  fastings  and 
vigils  and  hinnble  charity  to  render  themselves  worthy  of 
her  benediction  ;  in  the  hqv  sense  of  honor,  in  the  chival- 
rous nispj'ct,  in  the  softness  of  manners,  in  the  relinement  of 
tastes  displayed  in  all  the  walks  of  society  ;  in  those  and 
in  many  otlior  ways,  we  detect  its  inllueniu'.  Ail  tliat  was 
best  in  Eui'ope  clustered  around  it,  and  it  is  tlie  origin  of 
nr.iny  of  the  purest  elements  of  our  civilii:ation." — Vol.  i., 
pp.  225,  22G. 


seldom  or 
a  more  pro- 
ICC  than  the 


-C- 


V 

f 


Til 


General 
Catho 

COVKJd 
VOTION 

The 

baskiiif 

^^ewarthj 

the  havl 
Jihe  burj 

M    T]ie 

as  tlieyj 

Their  tf 

Baaiiuerl 

for  no 

If  any 

■Iras  hoc 

jb  ship 


HISTORY  OF  THE  DEVOTION 


TO 


THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN  MARY 


IN  NORTH  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

General  View— Cohjmbus— Natural  Growth  of  this  Devotion— First 
Catholics— TUK  Southeun  Statks  and  Canat)a — Ouu  Laiu-'s  Dis- 
covEHr  OF  America — Churches  of  h:  Namk — Ministers  of  thk  De- 
votion-—European  and  Amkkican  Devotion — Honor  due  to  Mary — 
EmoRANTS— I'atroness  of  the  United  States. 

The  little  seaport  town  of  Palos,  in  Andalusia,  lay 
tbasking  in  the  sun,  and  its  harbor  was  crowded  with 
HFfiwarthy  sight-seers  and  vocal  with  wondering  tongues. 
The  cool  mountain  waters  of  the  Tinto  brawled  past 
the  haven,  and  flowed  into  the  broad  Atlantic.  Out  on 
the  burnished  sea  three  caravels  lay  at  anchor. 

The  crowd  had  assembled  to  see  a  set  of  madmen, 
as  they  called  them,  depart  upon  a  hopeless  voyage. 
Their  tongues  were  busy  in  discussing  the  probable 
manner  in  which  evil  fate  would  fall  on  the  expedition, 
for  no  one  dreamed  of  a  happy  issue  for  the  adventure. 
If  any  dared  to  suggest  such  a  probability,  he,  too, 
was  hooted  at  as  insane,  and  ironically  recommended 

ship  for  the  voyage. 

1 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Ami,  MS  thoy  (lisputccl  and  siuHU'ed,  over  and  anon  a 
strain  of  the  jMass-nnisic  would  swell  ont  from  the 
church,  where  Faith  was  kncelin*^  to  ask  protection ; 
where  Conlideiuic  was  drawin_i^  new  strenj^th  from  de- 
votion to  Cod  and  Mary.  For  the  adventurers,  thciii- 
commander  at  tlieir  head,  were  preparin<^,  by  confes- 
sion and  llolv  Comnumion,  to  enter  like  Christian  men 
upon  tlieir  pcirilons  undertaking.' 

Then  the  Mass  was  over,  and  out  from  the  clmrcli, 
grave,  resolute,  and  calm,  Ava]k(Hl  the  admiral  at  tho 
head  of  his  crew ;  and  the  ci'owd,  husluid  into  silence, 
opened  a  way  for  tho  procession  to  the  jetty. 

A  few  moments  were  allowed  for  farewells.  Then 
the  brief  orders  Avere  given,  and  tho  sailors  entering 
the  boats,  rowed  oitt  to  their  respective  vessels. 

Then  the  n^port  of  the  culverin  sounded  from  the 
bows,  and  the  standard  of  Castile  swung  out  to  tho 
April  breeze  from  the  peak  of  tho  Santa  Maklv  ;  and 
the  crew  checn'ed,  and  the  crowd  on  shore  responded, 
as  the  admiral  stopped  on  board. 

A  few  moments  more  and  tho  anchors  were  weighed, 
the  yards  Avore  trinmied,  the  sails  filled,  and  the  flotilla 
of  Colundnis  stood  out  to  sea.  And  Avitli  it,  as  it 
crossed  those  pathless  Avaters,  the  love  and  protection 
of  our  dear  Lady  and  Mother  floated  over  the  Atlantic 
to  the  shores  of  America." 


*  Present t :  F»;rdinand  and  Isaliella,  ii.  ]!]0. 

'  The  liiinil)lL'  and  rcvLMViit  s])irit  in  which  Catliolics  undertook 
tlioir  great  hibors  is  wondered  ut,  and  sometimes  even  sneered  at,  by 
modern  liistoriaiis.     These  do  not  understand  the  consecration  of  all 


The 

called 

Santa 

Motho] 

It  i.s 

noA'or  ]j 

h(>r  ser 

fait/ifnl 

hrv  po^^ 

11 OM',  flT 

Terra  d 

Motlier 

For  d. 

Sarily  gr 

oui-  love 

iable,  be 

lis  it  Aval 

aoAv  gloil 

things  to  I 
leadiing  sJ 
"UominJ 
terrnm  et 
Uudotur  tnl 
•  '<Sfns  sacruij 
parte." 
/"O  Lore! 
"WOid,  creatl 
fled  be  Tli_y[ 
by  means 
acknowlciiJ 
Ifiiig:  C.)J 
'  To  call  I 
fltoglish  COL 


IN  North  Ameutca. 


8 


,  anon  a 
•om  tho 
tcction ; 
'roiii  til'- 
ji'H,  tlieii" 
'  confos- 
tian  men 

3  clmrcli, 
d  at  tlio 

0  silence, 

Is.     Tlion 

1  entering 
Is. 

from  tlie 
lut  to  tlio 
AiiLV ;  ftinl 
cspondeil, 

3  wciglicil, 
tlio  flotilla 
1  it,  as  it 
protection 
le  Atlantic 


The  first  liuid  toncliod  by  the  Christian  admiral  ho 
called  San  Salvador,'  in  honor  of  the  Son ;  the  next, 
Santa  Maria  do  la  Concopcion,  did  reverence  to  the 
1  Mother. 

It  is  woll-nigh  four  hnndred  years  since  then,  hut 

[never  has  Mary  forgotten  nor  been  forgotten  hero  ;  but 

|her  servants  have  labored  to  extend  ]w,r  devotion  ;  tho 

ifaitliful  have  responded  with  eager  and  loving  hearts  ; 

"i^iher  powerful  })rayers  have  aided  them  in  heaven  ;  and 

•|now,  from  tho  perpetual  Arctic  snows  to  tho  Uiists  of 

Terra  del  Fuego,  ascriptions   of  honor   arise   to   the 

Mother  Immaculate. 

For  devotion  to  Mary  is  in  its  own  nature  a  neces- 
sarily growiug  one,  inasmiich  as  it  is  the  expression  of 
our  love  and  reverence  for  her ;  and  these  are  inevi- 
table, because  of  her  nature,  immaculately  conceived 
as  it  was,  lingering  sixty  sinless  years  on  earth,  and 
noAv  glorified  and  triumphant  in  heaven. 


ics  undertook 
snt'ored  at,  by 
ccratioa  of  all 


things  to  God.    Tet  such  was  tlie  spirit  of  Columbus.    ITis  prayer  on 
leaching  S:in  Salvador  is  presi.'rvcd  by  Washington  Irving  : 

"  Domino  Deus,  aeturne  ot  omnipotens,  sacro  tuo  verl)o  coelum  et 
terram  et  marc  creasti ;  bonedicatur  ot  glorificctur  Nomen  tuum, 
lAudetur  tua  majcstas  qua;  dignita  est  per  humik'm  sorvum  tuum  ut 
<jtis  sacrum  2somen  agnoscatur  ut  pra;dicetur  iu  hac  altera  mundi 
parte." 

/"O  Lord,  eternal  and  omnipotent  God,  Thou  hast,  by  Thy  holy 
word,  created  the  heavens,  the  eartli,  and  the  sea  ;  blessed  and  glori- 
fied be  Thy  Name ;  praised  be  Thy  Majesty,  who  hast  deigned  that, 
bjr  means  of  Thy  unworthy  servant,  Thy  sacred  Name  should  be 
HflknowlcHlged  and  made;  known  in  this  new  quarter  of  the  globe." — 
Il<»ing:  Columbus,  i.  lofj. 

*  To  call  a  land  after  the  Saviour  being  deemed  superstitious,  the 
Bnglish  conquerors  reverently  changed  it  to  Cat  Island. 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Mary  is,  of  all  creatures,  except  the  sacred  Humanity 
of  lior  Lord  and  Son,  tlie  nearest  to  the  heart  of  God; 
and  the  love  that  she  gives  us  is,  after  all,  God's  Ioao, 
whereof  she  is  the  channel ;  and  God's  love,  in  His 
dealings  with  us,  never  stands  still,  but  is  evermore  on 
the  increase  here,  as  it  will  be  through  the  rajiturous 
ages  of  (iternity.  But  God  gives  love  in  exchange  for 
love  -  Ho  allows  us  with  our  own  coin,  poor  as  it  is,  to 
purchase  treasures  on  high,  and  so  our  love  necessa- 
rily increases  in  an  humble  kind  of  proportion  witli 
His.  Then,  when  He  sends  us  so  much  favor  through 
Mary,  wo  are  impelled  to  return  it  through  tlie  same 
blessed  channel ;  and  thus  devotion  to  lun*  grows  ever, 
and  shall  grow,  until  love  shall  be  placed  beyond  tlio 
reach  of  change  or  decay. 

So,  then,  Mary  has  gained  vast  possessions  in  tliis 
country.  One  day,  let  us  hojie,  she  will  conquer  it  Jill, 
and  annex  it  all,  loj-al  and  devoted,  to  the  kingdom  o' 
her  Son.  Tl  .ere  are  peculiarities  in  her  conqu(>sts  uiu] 
in  her  sacred  warfare  without  parallel  in  the  victories 
of  the  sword.  The  Aveapons  of  her  hosts  are  gentle- 
ness, and  mercy,  and  weariless  aftection ;  self-sacrifice 
and  refusal  of  reward  on  earth  ;  and,  better  still,  when- 
ever a  soldier  falls,  fighting  bravely  in  the  front  rnnli 
for  her  honor,  his  death  only  strengthens  her  armies 
and  helps  to  insure  the  success  of  her  cause.  From 
the  soil  which  was  enriched  by  the  blood  of  the  mar- 
tyrs, spring  the  Howers  that  deck  her  altars  in  the 
month  of  Maj'. 

With  the  successors  of  Columbus  came  the  cannon 


IN  North  Ajiertca. 


i.nmaiuty 
;  of  God ; 
ocVs  love, 
•0,  in  His 
:>vnioro  on 
I'ivpturons 
jluuip;e  for 
{vp  it  is,  to 
0  iiecessu- 
,rtion  witli 
or  tlirout^li 
]\  tlio  same 
m-ows  ever, 
bey 01)  d  tlio 

ions  in  tliis 
nquer  it  all, 
kingdom  ^' 
miuests  Mul 
the  victories 

ire  gentlc- 
sclf-sacrifice 
V  still,  wliou- 
e  front  rank 
s  licr  armies 
ause.    Fi'ora 

of  the  mav- 
altars  in  tlie 

0  the  cannon 


and  tlio  sword  :  hnt  there  cumo  also  tlio  Cross  and  the 
Eosarj.  There  came  Inst  of  dominion,  of  lands,  of 
gold  ;  crnelty,  bloodshed,  and  tlio  vices  of  civilization. 
Bnt  among  them,  and  nnharmed  by  their  contact,  were 
self-sacrifico,  devotion,  55eal  for  sonls,  love  of  God  and 
of  man  only  for  God's  sake. 

They  that  took  the  sword  perished  by  the  sword, 
and  won  only  blood-stained  names  as  their  re- 
ward. Bnt  the  warriors  of  Zion  and  of  Carinel 
won  sonls  back  to  Heaven ;  and  if  thc^y  died  in  the 
conflict,  their  blood  spake  londor  than  their  voices  had 
done. 

Ponce  de  Leon,  Vasqnez  de  Ayllon,  Narvaez,  de 
Soto,  Alvarado,  Coroniulo,  with  all  the  power  of  their 
arms,  Avitli  all  the  Spanish  and  Indian  gore  they  shed, 
only  gained  the  abhorrence  and  hatred  of  the  natives. 
Bnt  Father  Mark,  the  Franciscan,  armed  only  with 
the  crncilix,  penetrated  New  Mexico,  in  1539,  and 
gamed  the  Indians'  love.  Five  other  Franciscans  took 
the  same  path  in  15-10 ;  and  two  of  them,  Fatlier  John 
de  Padilla  and  Brother  John  of  the  Cross,  remained  in 

)ihe  conntry,  and  tanght  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  until 
they   were   slain  in   an   hn-oad   of    stranger   savages. 

vKodriguez,  Lopez,  Santa  Maria  followed  in  1580,  and 
confirmed  the  faith  in  New  Mexico,  from  which  it  has 

,_liever  since  departed. 

I    But  earlier  than  this,  in  1514,  Andrew  de  Olmos  had 
'Bought  out  the  fierce  Texan  tribes,  and  had  converted 

vfaany ;  and  in  IGOl,  the  Carmehte  Father,  Andrew  of 

jllhe  Assumption  of  the  Virgin,  with  his  companions. 


6 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  M.viiy 


had  eiit(>r<Ml  Califoniiii,  and  celobratod  tlici  diviuo  mys- 
teries at  Monterey. 

Florida  AViiH  first  baptized  in  the  l)lood  of  Louis 
Cancel,  the  Dominican.  As  he  steppiid  from  his  un- 
armed v(>ssel,  idone,  and  knelt  down  upon  the  shore, 
lie  was  slain  by  a  blow  from  a  war-club,  and  his  reek- 
ing scalp  was  sliuken  in  derision  b(>f()r<i  his  shuddering 
bretliren  (1511.)  To  him  succeeded  many  others,  to 
labor  for  .i  while  almost  in  vain,  and  then  to  die  be- 
neath the  tomuhawk  or  by  the  arrow.  The  Spaniards 
strugghul  long  to  make  a  successful  setth^ment  at  Pen- 
sacola,  but  gave  it  up,  for  a  time,  in  1501.  A  id  when 
the  so.diers  had  departed,  there  lingered  on  the  shore, 
alone,  resolved  to  labor  on.  Father  Salazar  and  Brother 
Matthew  of  the  Mother  of  God. 

But  a  few  years  later,  on  the  feast  of  the  Nativity  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  St.  Augustine,  "  by  more  than  forty 
years  the  oldest  town  in  the  United  Statcvs,"  was 
founded,  and  so  soon  as  this  foothold  was  obtained, 
the  heroic  missionaries  poured  in.'  Jesuit,  Francis- 
can, Dominican,  thronged  in  generous  rivalry  to 
spread  the  gospel  of  the  Highest  throughout  the  new 


'  "  It  was  the  hour  of  vespers,  on  tlie  evening  preceding  tlio  Festi- 
val of  the  Nativity  of  Mary,  that  the  Spaniards  returned  to  the  liiirbor 
of  St.  Augustine.  At  noonday  of  tlie  festival  itself,  the  governor  went 
on  shoro,  to  take  possesision  of  the  continent  in  the  name  of  liis  king. 
The  solemn  Mass  of  Our  Lady  was  i)erformed,  and  tlie  foundation  of 
St.  Augustine  was  immediately  laid.  It  is  hy  more  than  forty  years 
the  oldest  town  in  the  United  States.  Houses  in  it  are  yet  standing 
which  are  said  to  have  been  built  many  years  before  Virginia  waa 
colonized." — Bancroft:  History  of  the  United  States,  i.  GO. 


fcounf 
stho  n 
jtho  S 

.^^Mj-Jand  tl 

inf.. 
,^,v"Ima  a 

,  bordei 

-called 

'     Thc^ 

Jdied  ii 

'■      Ihat  di( 

ftnd  the 

lands  w 

iiot  for 

the  Vir^ 

f  It  is  t 

and  the 

ica,  folk 

popular] 

tive  maij 

Whenevcl 

ized  by  I 

While  til 

ftrt  werel 

sentiitivi 

banded 

humble 

priests  vl 


'TheCTi 
nwne  of  Scf 


Kit 


IN  North  America. 


uo  mys- 

3f  Louis 
luB  tiu- 

[lis  roc'k- 
;U(iaering 
othovH,  to 
)  (lie  1)0- 
■ipiuiiavcls 
lit  at  Vvn- 
And  when 
the  shore, 
id  Brother 

P^ativity  of 
than  forty 
itc>s,"  was 
ohtamed, 
t,  Trancis- 
rivah-y  to 
ut  tlio  new 


(Ving  the  Festi- 
a  to  tlio  liar\)or 
jj;(ivi'nior  wt'ut 
10  of  liisking. 
.!  loundufion  of 
hiin  forty  years 
.,.  yi't  standing 
re  Virginia  was 
G'.). 


country.  Tlioy  pierced  the  thick  forests,  tlioy  crossed 
tlie  mountuin  ranges,  they  swam  tho  broad  rivers  of 
tlie  South.  They  toiled  with  tho  Natchez,  tho  Creek, 
and  the  Cherokee ;  they  established  missions  in  Caro- 
lina and  Virginia,  and  they  coasted  tho  whole  Atlantic 
border  as  far  north  as  tho  Chesapeake,  Avhich  iJmj 
called  St.  Mary's  Bay. 

They  were  martyred,  it  is  true,  by  tho  Indians  ;  they 
died  in  the  wild  iorest  of  starvation  or  fatigue ;  but 
that  did  not  deter  others  from  following  in  their  steps  ; 
ftnd  tho  first  Europeans  who  dwelt  peaceably  in  these 
lands  were  the  missionary  fathers,  who  claimed  them, 
Hot  for  any  earthly  power,  but  for  God  and  St.  Mary 
the  Virgin. 

,  It  is  true  that  they  were  soon  driven  from  Virginia 
(ind  tho  Carolinas.  Shortly  after  the  discovery  of  Amer- 
ica, folloAved  the  discovery  of  that  system  of  rebellion 
|K)pularly  known  as  the  Reformation.  The  only  distinc- 
%ye  mark  of  this  was,  and  is,  hatred  to  tho  Church,  and 
llhenever  its  adherents  had  the  poAver,  it  was  signal- 
lied  by  the  destruction  of  religious  establishments. 
"Ifhile  the  most  splendid  monuments  of  religion  and 
fUpt  were  falling  beneath  its  axes  in  Europe,  its  ropro- 
Sfintatives  in  the  New  "World,  in  Carolina  and  Virginia, 
bttndcd  with  and  led  on  the  savages  to  tho  sack  of  the 
humble  missions,  and  the  slaughter  of  the  devoted 
priests  who  served  them.' 


•  The  Cliristinn  Indians  driven  out  with  tho  missionnrips  took  the 
name  of  Scminolos,  or  Wimderers.    Deprived  of  their  instructors,  tliey 


III 


8 


Devotion  to  ti'E  B.  V.  Mary 


No  8o-callo(l  Protestant  powers  have  over  mado 
their  way  to  any  new  or  pagan  country — India,  Chiua, 
Japan,  or  Aincric^a — without  finding  Catholic  mission- 
arieH  in  posHeH.sion  before  them;  quia  Domini  cut  terra, 
"  the  earth  is  the  Lord's."  And  wherever  they  havo 
been  strong  enough,  they  have  invariably  overthrown 
those  missions  and  rci-established  paganism.  Nay,  iu 
some  places  they  have  endowed  it ;  and  to-day  the  dis- 
torted, idols  for  India  are  manufactureel  by  the  ton  in 
the  cities  of  Christian  England. 

So  the  missions  on  St.  Mary's  Bay  and  in  the  Caro- 
linas  were  destroyed  by  the  combined  zeal  of  the  Re- 
former and  the  Yemassee  ;  but  under  the  Catholic  fla<,' 
of  Spain,  they  flourished  and  took  root  in  Alabuniii 
and  Florida ;  and  the  summer  sun  of  1G93  shone  upo!' 
a  statue  of  tlio  Mother  of  God,  under  whose  patronage 
and  protection  they  were  founding,  and  successfully, 
Pensacola.' 

And  while  those  transactions  were  occurring  in  tlio 
south  and  southwest,  the  French  missionaries  were 
conquering  the  tribes  of  the  north.  From  Acadia  niul 
the  St.  Lawrence  the  servants  of  Mary  spread  the  news 
of  salvation.  The  forests  of  Canada  rang  with  the 
Salve  Ih'fjina ;  from  the  birch  canoes  that  cut  the  azuiu 
waters  of  the  great  lakes  swelled  up  the  Ave  31<iiv 
Stella.  On  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  Bressany  told 
his  beads  in  the  intervals  of  L'oquois  torture.     Li  the 

graduully  rolai)8cd  into  paganism. —  Vide  Shea's  Catholic  Missions, 
p.  75. 
'  Shea :  History  of  the  United  States,  p.  40. 


tal!( 


T 


tyred  . 
p'djjic 
^-     Alio 
Lake  { 
Waters 
,  Bas,  est 
tion  ail 
rest  at 
•the  Cat 
through 
"dom,  uu 
'Und  Aves 
.'tlo   as 
Mountai 
''t  But  a 
;|rorth  A 
Ifcandarc 
'%as  still 
dbed;  r 
ier  cau 
Wet  by 
loved  he 
Her  c 
that  if  tl 
fearless, 
"tttoojis 
If  tliey  .^ 
stand  lioi 
«ei;e7i  hu 


IN  North  Ajierica. 


9 


rev  mailo 
ill,  Chimi, 
!  mission- 
i  e»l  to'fd, 
thoy  liftvo 
ivorthrowu 
I.  Nh}',  in 
ay  the  iIIh- 
tho  ton  in 

1  tlio  Caro- 
of  the  Re- 

atholic  tl;i}^ 
,n  Alabfiniii 
sliono  upo!' 
B  patronage 
uccesHfuUy, 

vrinj^  in  the 
inarics  were 
Acadia  aiul 
ad  tlic  ue\vs 
ng  with  tlie 
jut  the  aziue 
10  Ace  Miii'i' 
Iressany  toU 
;uve.     In  tlie 

atliolic  Missions 


yalloy  of  tlio  ]\[ohawk  Htronincd  tlio  blood  of  tlio  mar- 
tyri'd  Jognos,  and  wlioUi  dlHtricts  of  Now  York  Indians 
I»'d)iicly  rononnccd  tlu'ir  idolatries. 

Alloncz  I'lul  Dablon  ovangolizcd  tlio  chill  shores  of 
Lake  Supi^rior;  Mavciuctte  bore  the  cross  down  the 
waters  of  the  MiHHissi})pi  to  the  mouth  of  the  Arkan- 
BaH,  oHtabliKlu'd  a  mission  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion among  the  Illinois,  and  hid  liis  weary  frame  to 
rest  at  last  on  the  shores  of  Lako  Michigan.  And  so 
the  Catholic  embrace  circled  North  America,  extending 
through  pain  and  i)rivation,  through  toil  and  martyr- 
dom, until  the  Jesuit,  going  northward  from  Missouri, 
and  westward  from  Canada,  completed  the  sacred  cir- 
cle as  they  met  beneath  the  crests  of  the  Eocky 
Mountains  and  on  the  plains  of  Oregon. 

But  after  all,  this  was  but  Our  Lady's  discovery  of 
Nortli  America,  as  it  were — was  but  a  planting  of  her 
standard  and  the  act  of  taking  possession.  The  battle 
•was  still  to  be  fought,  the  hostile  tribes  were  to  bo  sub- 
dued ;  re-enforcements  of  foes  from  lands  inimical  to 
hier  cause  were  to  be  expected,  and  were  only  to  be 
met  by  re-enforcements  of  friends  from  lands  that 
lOved  her. 

'  Her  conquests  resemble  those  of  the  world  in  this, 
tihat  if  they  are  to  succeed,  the  officers  must  be  skilful, 
tearless,  diligent,  pi'udent,  unselfish,  and  prompt ;  the 
tltoops  must  be  steadfast,  obedient,  loyal,  and  constant. 
If  they  shall  appear  to  have  been  so,  we  will  under- 
atond  how  her  honor  has  increased  in  the  land ;  how 
t6Ven  hundred  churches  bear  her  Name,  out  of  threti 


:' 


10 


1)evotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


thousand  five  liuiKlred  in  every  portion  of  the  country ; 
how  the  same  sweet  Name  is  given  to  river,  lake,  and 
mountain  peak  and  bay,  north,  south,  and  througli  th(3 
centre ;  and  how  more  than  two  million  voices  chant 
her  praise,  and  proclaim  her  Lady  and  Protectress.* 

The  instruments,  then,  of  the  gracious  will  and  favor 
of  God  are  the  fidelity  of  His  ministers,  the  influx  of 
foreign  Cathohcs,  and  the  winning  character  of  the 
doctrines  and  devotions  of  the  Clmvch. 

The  fidelity  of  the  minister  is  the  main  point,  since, 
without  this,  the  aborigine  would  retain  his  paganism, 
the  emigrant  lose  his  faith,  the  American  remain  un- 
converted.    He  must  be  faithful  who  would  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  and  so  extend  the  devotion  to  Mary, 
for  these  two  go  together.     The  Mother,  for  all  e^.^.- 
nity,  now  is  inseparable  from  her  Son.    When  He  took 
her  Dure  flesh  upon  Him  in  time,  it  was  not  only  to 
suffer  in  it  here,  but  to  preserve  it  forever  in  heavou. 
She  whom  He  called  Mother  here.  He  calls  Mother 
there.     She  has  no  honor  but  His,  and  what  she  merits 
by  duty  faultlessly  performed  to  Him.    Whatever  goes 
towards  God's  glory  is  an  honor  to  Mary ;  whatever 
detracts  from  it  or  obstructs  it,  is   a  pain  to  Mary, 
She  has  nothing  of  her  oAvn,  yet  she  has  all ;  for  she 
has  Him,  "  of  whom  and  by  whom  and  for  whom  are 
all" — propter  qiiem  omnia  et  per  qiicm  Oinnia.'  ^ 


'  Even  those  estimates  are  less  than  the  truth.  They  are  made 
from  the  ahnanac  for  18G1,  in  which,  for  some  dioceses,  the  names  o! 
ohurcl.o^  .,'•-  not  given  :  indeed,  whole  dioceses  have  no  report  at  all 

'  Saint  Paul :  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  ii.  10. 


'$      It  1! 

'-',1 

ijcan  e: 

: Icause 

irevere: 

she  ba: 

'ift  com: 

Ifood  ui 

against 

best  M( 

.Jffis  mi: 

gospel  c 

r.  And  f 

with  the 

neccssar 

as  for  till 

They 
ffliares  aj 
prndeniei 
or  trick  ;| 
hmihce. 
H  send 
^tfo  vos\ 
ia  spirit  j 
ia  all  thi 
h%hest 
Kbce,  "i 

<^  the  \sJ 

'  St.  J 


m 


IN  NOETH  AmEEICA. 


11 


3  country ; 
,  lake,  and 
irougli  tlio 
ices  chant 
actress/ 
I  and  favor 
e  influx  of 
3ter  of  tlie 

ooint,  since, 
i  paganism, 
remain  un- 
l  preacli  the 
ion  to  Mary, 
for  all  eto.- 
hen  He  toolc 

not  only  to 
r  in  heaven. 
calls  Motlier 
at  she  merits 

hatover  goes 
t-y ;  whatever 
ain  to  Mary. 
5  all ;  for  she 
for  whom  are 
a.' 

They  are  vad>- 
■SOS,  the  names  d 
uo  report  at  all 


It  is  her  Maternity  to  Him  that  explains — that  only 
can  explain — the  CathoHc  devotion  to  her.  It  is  be- 
cause she  has  Him  for  her  child  that  she  has  us  for  her 
roverers.  She  has  a  right  to  our  veneration,  because 
she  bare  Him  who  has  a  right  to  our  adoration.  It  is 
a  common  sentiment  of  our  nature  to  honor  every 
good  mother  for  the  sake  of  her  son ;  it  is  a  sin,  then, 
against  our  regenerate  nature  to  refuse  honor  to  that 
best  Mother  of  the  best  Son.  And  so  it  comes  that 
His  ministers  are  her  ministers ;  that  fidelity  to  the 
gospel  of  Christ  is  fidelity  to  devotion  for  Mary. 
.  And  for  this  fidelity  must  her  minister  be  endowed 
with  the  gifts  which  insure  it,  and  which  are  rendered 
necessary  by  the  circumstances  of  their  lives,  as  well 
as  for  the  success  of  their  mission. 

They  must  be  prudent  as  serpents,  for  a  thousand 
BBares  are  daily  laid  for  their  destruction.  Estoic  ergo 
pruchntes  td  serpenfes^ — yet  prudent  without  selfishness 
ear  trick ;  "  be  ye  simple  as  doves" — simplices  sicut  co- 
himhce.  They  must  be  brave  in  their  innocence,  for 
**I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves," 
^tto  vos  sicut  agnos  inter  Ivpof.  /  humble,  for  the  poor 
il^  spirit  have  the  blessing — heati  pauperes  spiritu;"  yei 
ii^  all  their  personal  humility  they  must  preserve  the 
ll^hest  dignity  and  sacred  character  of  their  office, 
BUace,  "  as  My  Father  hath  sent  Me,  even  so  send  I  yoiV 
-^cut  misit  me  Pater  et  ego  mitto  i)os.*  Eenunciation 
the  world,  and  separation  from  its  ties  and  it,  are 


:^  "  St.  Matthew's  Gospel,  x.  10. 
■}  •  S*..  Luke,  X.  3. 


'  St.  Matthew,  v.  3. 

*  St.  John's  Gospel,  xx.  21. 


12 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


necessary,  for  the  "cares  of  tliis  world  choke  the 
word,"  and  the  married  man  careth  for  the  things  of 
the  world,  how  he  may  please  his  wife,  cerumnce  saxidi 
suffocant  verbum,^  and  qui  cum  uxori  est  solicitus  est  mundi 
quomodo  placeat  nxori.^ 

The  ministers  of  God  and  Mary  must  find  no  obsta- 
cle in  disease,  privation,  or  poverty,  no  teiror  in  death; 
for  tlie  *'  sufferings  of  the  present  life  are  not  worthy 
to  be  compared  to  the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed"— 
non  sunt  condignce  passiones  hiijus  temporis  ad  futuram 
gloriam  qticc  revelabitur  in  nobis.'  He  must  be  persever- 
ing, for  only  "  to  him  that  overcometh  will  I  give  to 
eat  of  the  tree  of  Life  which  is  in  the  Paradise  of  my 
God" — Vincenti  dabo  edere  de  ligno  vitce  quod  est  in  Fa- 
radiso  Dei  mei;*  and  he  must  be  ever  vigilant,  since 
only  that  servant  is  blessed  whom  his  Lord,  when  He 
Cometh,  shall  find  watching — Beati  servi  illi,  quos,  cum 
venerit  Dominus  invenerit  vigilantes.^ 

And  it  is  precisely  men  of  such  qualifications  whom 
it  has  pleased  God  to  send  out  for  the  evangelization 
of  America.  Had  they  been  endowed  with  less  than 
all  this,  the  English  conquest  of  North  America  would 
^  .ve  swept  the  devotion  to  Mary  from  the  land.  "Were 
tiiey  not  so  endowed  to-day,  devotion  to  Mary  woulil 
perish  before  the  godlessness,  the  indifference  of  tlie 
world  around  us.  But  they  are  the  same  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  as  in  the  sixteenth  ;   they  may  differ 


^^f 


externa 
tention, 
commis) 
their  lal 
Mons( 


*  St.  Mark,  xiv.  19. 

'  1  Corinthians,  vii.  33. 

•  St.  Paul  to  the  Romans,  viii.  18 


*  Apocalypse,  ii.  7. 

•  St.  Luke,  xii.  37. 


S  spot  wh 
''f  three  hu 
the  ^Span 
in  1560 
^^  told  his  I 
■k  banks  of 
the  same 
■  .fluence  hi 
iof  Mexici 
"^northern  ] 
a  bishop  ] 
Eiver,  an( 
Palm  Sur 
petual  m 
gC'lden  la 
are  pushii 
faithful  s( 
ing  the 
. feverence 

While 
^an,  and 

'The  SpaJ 

"  ilorida,  or  t\ 

■  '  The  Reel 

Claiiaiia. 


\A 


*fc<. 


IN  North  America. 


13 


Dke  the 
lings  of 
ce  sa;cuU 
st  mundi 

0  obsta- 
n  death; 
t  worthy 
ealed"— 
futuram 

persever- 

1  give  to 
se  of  my 
est  in  Pa- 
,ant,  since 

when  He 
qiios,  cum 

ons  whom 
igelization 
L  less  than 
rica  wouU 
md.  "Weve 
lary  woulii 
nee  of  tk 
n  the  nine- 
may  diffei 

3,  ii.  7. 
ax.  37. 


:;<» 


externally  in  some  matters,  but  the  interior— the  in- 
tention, the  puiTDOse— is  the  same,  as  is  the  divine 
commission  and  ordination  which  gives  authority  to 

their  labors. 

Monseigneur  Verot  builds  a  church  to-day  on  the 
spot  where  Luis  Cancel  de  Barbastro  was  martyred 
three  hundred  years  ago.   Bishop  Lamy  renews  among 
the  Spaniards  and  Indians  in  1862  tht  fervor  awakened 
in  1560  f •  ^-  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe.    Where  Jogues 
told  his  beads  as  a  preventive  for  martyrdom,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mohawk,  a  hundred  voices  are  repeating 
the  same  prayers  ;  and  Avhiie  the  circle  of  Mary's  in- 
fluence has  been  Avidened,  tiU  its  bounds  are  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans,  and  its 
(northern  limits  are  the  extreme  Arctic  regions — while 
a  bishop  has  his  seat  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia 
sEiver,  and  another  in  far  Florida,  the  land  named  for 
v'Palm  Sunday,*  and  a  third  rules  in  the  almost  per- 
i^etual  winter  of  Hudson's  Bay,  and  a  fourth  in.  the 
l^olden  land  of  California — the  intrepid   missionaries 
iiifcre  pushing  the  frontiers  still  further  northward  ;  and 
|fe,ithful  servants  of  Mary  have  filled,  and  are  still  fill- 
ing the  whole  interior  of  the  countr;;  with  love  and 
feverence  for  her  name. 

'%  While  the  old  missionary  orders,  Jesuit,  and  Sulpi- 
tian,  and  Franciscan,'  are  still  energetically  pursuing 


^  The  Spaniards  lending  on  Palm  Sunday,  which  they  call  Pascua 
'  IjPIorida,  or  the  Flower  Easter,  gave  this  name  to  the  now  land. 
i'  *  The  RecollectB,  an  order  of  reformed  Franciscans,  are  busied  iu 

Ciauaau. 


u 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maby 


I 


their  sacred  conquests  in  Oregon,  among  tlie  Esqui- 
maux and  the  tribes  of  British  America,  now  orders 
have  arisen  especially  devoted  and  dedicated  to  the 
Blessed  Vii'gin,  as  the  Marists'  and  the  Oblates  of 
Mary  Immaculate." 

These  are  the  outj)osts  and  advanced  guards  of 
God's  army  in  North  America ;  while,  in  the  interior, 
the  secular  and  regular  clergy,  bishop  and  priest,  are 
in  the  heat  of  the  fight.  These  have,  perhaps,  even 
harder  work  than  the  missionary  to  the  pagan.  I  do 
not  say  this  in  a  spirit  of  comparison,  but  only  in  ex- 
pression of  a  feeling  Avhicli  I  ])ossess,  in  common  with 
others,  and  which  is  this :  That  he  who  is  roaming 
through  the  grand  native  forests,  breasting  the  torrent 
in  a  birch  canoe,  setting  a  stout  heart  against  the  in- 
clemencies of  a  wild  nature,  has  the  poetry  and  ro- 
mance, the  adventure  and  ever- varying  iucidun^^^  to 
mspirit  and  excite  him. 

So  Bancroft,  after  a  tribute  to  the  zeal  of  the  mis- 
sionary, says :  "  And  yet  the  simplicity  and  the  free- 
dom of  life  in  the  wilderness  had  its  charms.  Tlio 
heart  of  the  missionary  would  swell  with  delight,  as, 
under  a  serene  sk}--,  and  with  a  mild  temperature,  and 
breathing  a  pure  air,  he  moved  over  waters  as  trans- 
parent as  tl  '*  most  limpid  fountain.  Every  encamp- 
ment offered  his  attendants  the  pleasures  of  the  chase. 


'  An  edunatioual  order  founded  at  Bordeaux.  France,  in  1818. 

*  A  missionary  order  whose  superior-general  is  Mgr.  tlie  Bishop  of 
Marseilles,  and  vvlio  are  laboring  chiefly  in  British  America  and  in  the 
bouthv  ustoru  United  States. 


;    Like 
i    lund 
I    the  1( 
■I'i   its  pr 
t   ship, 
where 
;!  the  af 
I  like  tl 
I  bread 
I  site  f( 
il  moniei 
'  floor  ( 
:  cluster 
[ Dot  im: 
Hel 
Ptrium}) 
'Mvne  G 
jUhe  pri 
fEation 
of  civil 
:-the  lov 
flislion( 
fluence 
.  lable  i 
.l^ess ; 
cioctrin 
ittdivic 
ftnd  po 


e  Esqui- 
w  orders 
d  to  the 
blates  of 


;iiards   of 
)  interior, 
)riest,  are 
laps,  even 
;an.     I  do 
»uly  in  ex- 
luion  with 
s  roaming 
lie  torrent 
nst  the  in- 
ry  and  ro- 
iieidciit  to 

3f  the  mis- 
1  the  free- 
irnis.  The 
delight,  as, 
raturo,  anil 
•s  as  trans- 
L-y  encamp- 
;  the  chase. 


in  1818. 
•.  the  Bishop  of 
srica  and  in  tlie 


IN  North  Ajierica. 


16 


Like  a  patriarch,  he  dwelt  beneath  a  tent ;  and  of  tho 
land  throngh  Avhich  he  walked  ho  w^as  its  master,  in 
the  length  of  it  and  in  the  breadth  of  it,  profiting  by 
its  productions  without  tho  embarrassment  of  owner- 
ship. How  often  was  the  pillow  of  stones  like  that 
where  Jacob  felt  tho  presence  of  God !  How  often  did 
the  aged  oak,  whereof  the  centuries  were  untold,  seem 
like  the  tree  of  Mamre,  beneath  which  Abraham  broke 
bread  with  angels  !  Each  day  gave  the  pilgrim  a  new 
site  for  his  dwelling,  which  tho  industry  of  a  few 
moments  could  erect,  and  for  which  nature  supplied  a 
floor  of  green,  inlaid  with  flowers.  On  every  side 
clustered  beauties  which  art  had  not  spoiled  and  could 
not  imitate." ' 

He  hiis  the  rough,  hearty  life  of  a  soldier,  and  the 
triumi)li  of  the  discoverer ;  and  he  has  to  teach  the 
true  God  to  those  who  have  worshipped  demons.  But 
the  priests  in  tho  midst  of  a  more  or  less  perfect  civili- 
zation have  not  this.  Their  fight  is  against  the  vices 
of  civilization,  very  unpoetic,  very  unromantic  ;  against 
the  love  of  money,  the  cheatery  of  trade,  the  permitted 
dishonor  and  dishonesty  of  the  world  ;  against  the  in- 
fluence of  the  drinking-shop  and  the  low  gambling- 
table;  against  the  serpent  of  liberalism  and  godless- 
ftess ;  against  the  temptations  of  impurity  and  false 
doctrine  ;  against  the  ever-changing  phases  of  sin  in 
individuals;  against  dangers  which  confer  no  glory, 
ftnd  poverty  which  is  not  picturesque.    They  are  in  the 


*  Bancroft:  History  of  the  United  States,  iii.  153. 


16 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


heart  of  the  army,  in  the  midst  of  the  ranks  ;  they  are 
the  unnoticed  fighters,  who  fall,  and  are  succeeded  by 
others  who  fall  in  turn ;  who  combat  all  their  lives  to 
gain  one  foot  of  ground,  or,  perhaps,  only  not  to  lone 
one  foot ;  and  whose  record  is  only  on  the  page  of  the 
book  of  the  Gveat  King  on  high. 

For  them  the  steaming  walls  of  the  hospital  replace 
the  dark  green  arching  aisles  of  the  stately  immemorial 
wood.  For  them  the  rush  and  roar  of  the  hot  and  nar- 
row street  must  be  a  substitute  for  the  fresh,  free  leap 
of  the  wild  and  beautiful  river.  The  skulking  convict 
and  the  drunkard,  the  brazen  harlot  and  the  apostate 
Catholic,  must  be  their  dark-skinned  warrior  tribe. 
The  idols  they  must  shatter  are  the  human  passions ; 
the  temples  they  must  renovate  are  human  hearts. 

It  is  in  this  view  that  I  have  ventured  to  call  their 
work  harder ;  not  in  itself,  but  in  its  circumstances : 
not  because  more  actual  labor  is  required  from  one 
than  another ;  but  because  of  the  lack  of  much  which 
can  stimulate  and  distract. 

And  this  brings  me  to  a  point  which  must  be  care- 
fully noticed  by  the  reader.  I  mean  the  difference  be- 
tween the  rise  of  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Mother  of 
God  in  this  country  and  in  the  old  Catholic  lands,  and 
the  consequent  difference  between  the  respective  ex- 
ternal manifestations  of  it. 

When  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  Mary  issued  from 
Palestine  and  spread  over  Europe,  it  was  for  the 
dethronement  of  false  deities  among  comparatively 
simple    men;    for  civilization    then    was    exclusivelj 


Eo 


T 


IN  North  America. 


17 


;  they  are 
ceedecl  by 
3ir  lives  to 
lot  to  lofse 
age  of  the 

tal  replace 
inmemoi'ial 
ot  and  nar- 
h,  free  leap 
ing  convict 
he  apostate 
rrior  tribe. 
,n  passions ; 
hearts, 
ko  call  their 
Bumstances ; 
)d  from  one 
much  which 

aust  be  care- 
lifference  be- 
;d  Mother  of 
ic  lands,  and 
espective  ex- 

f  issued  from 
was  for  tlie 
jomparatively 
3    exclusively 


Roman,  save  here  and  there  a  little  colony.    Men  re- 
ceived the  faith,  sooner   or  later,  in  simjile,  earnest 
hearts.    Faith  retained  for  many,  many  centuries  a 
straightforwardness  and  unnhesitating  openness  which 
V,    has  begtin  to  decay  only  within  the  last  three  hundred 
?    years.     For  the  general  diffusion  of  a  too  thi\  and  iu- 
.1  nutritive   knowledge  has  unquestionably  injured   the 
;V'  simplicity  of  faith,  by  increasing,  not  our  wisdom,  but 
our  conceit  that  we  are  wise. 
Men  have  been  taught  by  this  to  replace  Faith  with 
J   those  niggardliest  of  qualities,  suspicion  and  doubt. 
•\!  State  any  manifestation  of  God's  love  to  man,  any  in- 
ff^  dividual  and  distinct  mark  of  His  favor  or  providence, 
and  for  one  that  will  say  Blessed  be  Plis  Name  for 
that;  a  hundred  will  doubt  it,  will  furnish  a  score  of 
w  mean  reasons  against  its  probability,  will  suspect  a 
I  score  of  honorable  men  of  collusion,  invention,  and 
I'm  deceit. 

*  Pantheism — if  I  may  use  that  word  for  want  of  a 
better  to  express  the  generalization  and  depersonaliza- 
jtion  of  God — was  not  universally  spread  as  it  is  now. 
Mi  it  existed,  it  was  in  some  head  which  "too  much 
•'learning  had  made  mad" — some  mind  gone  astray 
Ithrough  over-esteem  of  its  own  reasoning  faculties; 
jland  was  generally  confined  to  a  university  chamber. 

Then  men  believed  in  a  personal  God,  to  whom  they 
were  personally  accountable ;  they  loved  to  receive  His 
gifts  and  benefits  as  personal  ones ;  they  knew  nothing 
of  these  fine,  new,  universal  humanities  and  confeder- 
acies of  God ;  but  He  was  nnj  Father  and  imj  God  as 


18 


Di;yo'I'I(»n  to  the  15.  V.  IMary 


well  as  our  Fiillu'r  and  our  God.  Tlioy  f^ot  closer  to 
Him  bv  tills  iiulividualiziii}^',  wliicli  was  yot  in  no  sonso 
exclusive.  A  man  received  a  benelit,  not  as  a  }^(>neral, 
universal  j^'il'l — of  the  gratitude  for  wliicli  his  own  shani 
Avus  so  small  that  (Jod  Avould  not  miss  it  if  it  were 
never  paid — but  as  a  benefit  done  to  Iiiiit,  for  which  all 
his  gratitude  was  too  little. 

And  so  th(>v  liad  jiersonal  dealings  with  Ood;  and 
•W'lien  ho  said  to  tlu^  belovcnl  disci[)le — speaking  from 
the  cloud  of  agony  Avhi(^h  overhung  the  Cross — "Son, 
behold  thy  mothi>r!"  they  saw  in  that  divinest  boon  a 
mother  for  all  and  each  of  them  ;  a  moth(>r  ecpially 
loving  and  tender  to  each  of  her  children  ;  procuring 
benetits  for  eatili  from  h(>r  Divine  Son,  and,  therefore, 
naturally  carrying  back  to  Him  the  thanki^.  of  each  for 
such  ben(>f\ts. 

AVell,  tluMi,  in  a  little  time,  human  thanks  to  God 
ran  gencridly  through  IMary's  heart  and  lips  as  their 
channel,  the  channel  naturally  the  most  agrec^able  to 
Him ;  and  so  licu'  name  got  to  be  cud)roid(n'ed  on  the 
bright  mantle  of  the  European  Avorld  as  its  chiefest 
decoration.  They  went  to  fight,  and  b(>ggod  her  pro- 
tection; they  came  back  successful,  and  they  built 
Notre  Dame  des  llcfoircs.  They  were  perishing  by  an 
epidemic,  and  made  {.  novena  to  her,  and  she  heard 
tluMu,  and  their  Cathedral  is  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of 
Help  in  need,  Notre  Dame  de  hon  secours. 

Travellers  lighted  on  land  after  storms,  like  the 
grand,  heroic  Columbus,  and  because  in  their  trouble 
they  had  begged  help  from  the  gentle  Mother,  and 


tlio 
]ali< 

JXJO 

ono 
Mar 
ary 

was 
In 

i   of  J), 
ll  inevi 

I  those 
.  t  to  so 

■^  same 

y  Lady 
>late^ 
;:  tain  fi 
iHhoug 
leach 


v$ 


He 


''-%,  '  Ev( 
'^ers  wll 
i|brior  tj 

■.  .;^e  arte 

;.ilid  m] 
J|now 
IBbgas, 
;i>  blund 

;^(1  mol 

mce. 


IN  NoiiTir  AMKura.. 


19 


'loHcr  to 
ao  sonso 

rf(MiOVal,  • 

WW  sliiiro 
'  it  -Nvoro 
wliii'li  all 

^o(\•,  and 
dn<,'  from 
IS—"  Son, 
!st  boon  a 
<r  p(jnally 
]n-i)cuving 
tlioveforo, 
)f  oacli  for 

cs  to  God 
ps  as  their 

ot^ablo  to 
rod  on  tlio 
its  cluofost 

1  hoi-  pvo- 

Wxoy   built 
;hing  by  an 

she  heard 
)ur  Lady  of 

IS,  lilvo  the 
heir  trouble 
Mother,  and 


H 


thou.^lit  tluit  she  had  heard  tlieni,  they  called  the  new 
land  by  lier  name.  A  city  estijipes  sonu)  {^'(Mua-al  deso- 
liilion  ;  they  change  its  name  for  wnne  title  of  hers.  A 
])().. r,  pious  nnui,  attaelaul  by  highwayincn,  converts 
Olio  by  his  gentle  discourse;  the  places  is  called  St. 
Mary  of  JloJ)bers,  and  some  nineteenth-century  lit<!r- 
ary  skirmislun'  will  inform  yon  that  the  ])l<'ssed  Virgin 
was  the  patroness  of  thiev(;s  in  this  jioighlxnliood. 

In  this  way  Europe  became  covered  with  menumtoes 
of  benefits  rec(>ived  by  Mary's  intiU'cession,  and,  by 
inevitable  naturalness,  they  bear  her  name  ;  ,ind,  in 
those  days,  remembering  some  kiiubuiss  don(!  by  luu' 
to  some  particular  town,  and  standing  in  need  of  the 
same  kindness  for  himself,  a  man  would  pray  to  our 
Lady  of  Ilehbourg,  St.  Mary  of  Challons,  the  Inunacu- 
late  Virgin  of  Liege.  From  which  circumstance  cer- 
tain flatulent  writers  have  deduced  that  those  Cathohcs 

hought  there  Avero  many  Blessed  Virgins,  and  that 

acli  lived  in  her  own  special  village.' 
Hence,  the  Histov      "  the  Devotion  to  the  Blessed 


',  '  Even  sucli  as  Walter  Scott  and  Washington  Irving  commit  blun- 
ders which  are  incomprehensible  to  nu!n  whose  ediicarion  is  far  in- 
ferior to  that  of  those  masters.  Catholics  going  to  Mass  at  all  hours  of 
the  afternoon  and  eve  aing,  confessing  to  a^tl  receiving  absolution  from 
laymen,  and  men,  w(  men,  and  children  in  general  using  breviaries 
and  missals.  A  well-educated  author,  a  Protestant,  is  required  to 
know  the  meaning  of  the  Ramadan,  the  Mishna,  the  Norwegian 
Sagas,  Joe  Smith  the  Mormon,  the  Yezidees,  the  Fetish,  but  is  allowed 
to  blunder  like  an  idiot  about  Mass,  Vespers,  and  Rosary,  the  highest 
and  moyt  frequent  acts  of  worship  of  two  hundred  millions  of  Chri» 
tian  men,  half  of  whom  are  of  the  leading  races  of  civilization  in 
Trance,  Spain,  North  America,  Germany,  Italy,  and  Great  Britain  1 


■5t(^ 


20 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Virfifin  in  Europe  is  simply  a  rainblo  throuj^li  tlio 
lioantiful.  Thcro  is  no  hiunlet,  no  bnrj^h,  nor  city 
without  its  consecration,  partial  or  entire,  to  the  dear 
Mother  of  God,  and  for  His  sake  ours.  Euroi)o  is 
flooded  with  fact,  and  legend,  and  circumstance  ;  ami 
ho  who  writes  of  the  devoticm  there  finds  dilUcultv, 
not  in  diseoverinj.^  material,  but  in  deciding  amid  tlio 
masses  tliat  lie  before  him  what  he  will  accept  ami 
what  refuse. 

But  with  us,  the  national  antiquities,  so  to  speak,  of 
the  Catholic  Faith  must  be  looked  for  only  on  our 
borders.  The  poetry  of  evangelization  meets  only  tlio 
Indian  missionary,  the  tradition  of  the  Spaniard  in  the 
South,  of  the  Frenchman  in  the  North.  I  mean,  of 
course,  the  imblished  poetry ;  for  the  hidden,  intrinsic 
beauties  of  our  faith  and  our  devotion  arc  imperisliablo 
and  invariable.  We  live,  comparatively  few  in  number, 
in  a  land  which,  if  not  Protestant,  is,  at  least,  anti- 
Catholic.  No  sacred  processions,  with  vested  clerics 
at  their  head,  sweep  through  our  streets ;  no  train  of 
pilgrims  wmds  along  the  river-bank,  or  through  the 
greenwood,  to  a  favored  Lady  Chapel ;  no  sweet  face 
of  dear  Mary  Mother  smiles  at  us  as  we  pass  from 
wayside  shrine  ;  there  is  no  halt  of  business,'  and  gen- 

'  These  statemonta  aro  to  be  taken  generally,  and  particularly'  only 
of  the  United  States.  French  Canada,  of  course,  retains,  with  tlie 
ancient  faith,  many  of  its  external  practices.  The  colonies  of  C'ntluilic 
Hii^hlanders  in  the  extreme  north  can  do  as  th(\v  please.  Ijouif^iana, 
New  Mexico,  and  part  of  California,  are  still  Catholic ;  but  >7hero  our 
great  {wpulations  and  our  largest  wealth  and  influence  are,  these , 
words  are  true. 


'.-i'--i 


IN  North  America. 


81 


)U}^ll    tlio 

nor  city 

the  clear 
ixirope  is 
Luco ;  and 
dilViciilty, 

amid  tlio 
ccopt  and 

)  speak,  of 
ily  on  our 
in  only  tlio 
liurcT  in  the 
I  moan,  oli 
311,  intrinsic 
iperishablo 
hi  number, 
least,  anti- 
isteil  clerics 
no  train  of 
through  the 
sweet  face 
e  pass  from 
ss,'  ami  gen- 

larticulaTly  only 
etains,  witli  the 
.nit'S  of  Catliolic 
use.  Ijouisiana, 
but  Nvliero  our 


uonce  are,  1.1 


;he»e 


cral  baring  of  the  head  for  a  moment's  communion 
witli  God,  whvAi  the  Angelas  rings  out  from  the  steeple. 
A  few  traditional  obscr^-vances  may  linger  in  porti(m8 
of  the  United  States  where  the  Spanish  or  French  in- 
fluence has  remained  unaltered;  but  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land  is  bitterly  hostile  to  any  out- 
ward manifestation  of  ovv  love  for  Mary,  because  bit- 
'    terly  hostile  to  that  love  itself. 

Pulpit  and  lecture-room,  rostrum,  public  meeting, 
and  corner-stone  layings,  the  press  and  the  bar-room, 
re-echo  with  charges  of  idolatry,  of  taking  from  God 
the  honor  which  is  His  duo  only,  and  giving  it  to  a 
.creature  ;  and  even  the  gentlest  will  shake  their  heads 
and  bewail  with  grave  charity  the  unfortunate  propen- 
vgity  of  the  Papist  to  give  too  mucli  honor  to  Mary. 
Vji  And  yet  what  is  our  feeble  love  and  honor  compared 
;  ;to  that  which  she  obtains  from  God ?  As  our  love  for 
our  fellows  is  but  a  shadow  of  His  love  for  man,  so 
our  especial  love  for  Mary  is  but  a  shadow — a  faint, 
attenuated  shadow — of  His  love  for  her.  The  Eternal 
Father  hath  chosen  her  to  be  the  Mother  of  !.i  .s  only 
Son ;  the  H(jly  Spirit  elected  her  His  spouse.  The 
Son  who  givetli  right-hand  thrones  to  the  apostles  who 
preached  His  word,  is  bound  in  justice  to  do  more  for 
the  Mother  who  bore  Him  For  His  sake,  if  you 
would  please  Him,  reverence  her ;  if  you  believe  in 
honoring  your  own  mother,  believe  that  He  believes  in 
honoring  His.  It  is  impossible  for  the  Christian 
adorer  of  the  Incarnate  God  to  give  His  blessed 
Motlier  more  honor,  interior  or  exterior,  than  is  her 


22 


Dkvotion  To'TirE  B.  V.  I\r.\iiY 


duo.     Smic/d  cf  hiniKii'iihiItt  J'nyinlhis-,  (ini/iiin  lelnutJihits 
vffc  I'll  III  i.'csfi'i) ;  I]  II  ill  qiiv.iii  ru'li  capt'i'c  mm  jw/t'ro)</,  tuo 

(p'CinIn  rniifii/i's/!,^ 

Si),  tlicii,  avIkm!  -vvo  coiiKidrr  liow  stronj.?  tliis  fiM'ling 
u^iuiist  devotion  to  ]\[;ir_)  is;  ]io\v  ])()\V('ifid  tlu*  iullu- 
oiK'o  of  t1i(^  iiiMJority  is,  ('spcciidlj  avIkm  tliiii  luajovity 
pfjssesscs  tli(MV('!iltli  iind  intlnciieo  of  tlio  land;  liow 
many  tcmptutions  snrround  tlu'  Catluli'^  hero;  how 
hard  it  is  to  Ixar  s]i;^lit,  inisi'opros(>ntatioii,  and  wih'ul 
falsehood  ;  liow  niui'li  (>asior  it  is  to  deny  having'  a  del- 
icate and  l>elov(>d  sentiment  tho  rather  than  to  expose 
it  to  ili(i  risk  of  a  sneer;  how  swift  tlii^  })aeo  of  tlio 
money-hunter  is  hero;  how  little  th(!  1t(>autil'ul  in  life 
and  creed  is  cultivated,  and  how  devoted  are  nun  to 
whiit  they  nre  ph>ased  to  call  tho  practical,  au'l  which 
means  simply  nujro  careful  diligence  for  the  hod}'  than 
for  the  soul,  for  time  than  for  eternity  ; — wIkm  we  con- 
sider all  these,  the  Avonder  is,  not  that  there  is  so  nmcli 
or  so  little  devotion  to  Our  Lady,  but  that  there  is  aiiv 
at  all. 

Yet  in  despite  of  all  this,  wo  aro  prepared  to  believe 
that  there  is  no  old  Catholic  country  in  Europe ;  tlifit 
there  never  has  been  a  country  in  which  reverent  love 
and  earnest  heartfelt  devotion  tor  the  Blessed  Motlur 
of  God  was  more  deeply  rooted,  more  ardentl}'  cher- 
ished, or  more  fervently  and  fi-uitfully  practised  tliiiii 
this  same  North  America.     It  is  unobtrusive,  but  it  is 


'  Response  in  office  of  B.  V.  M.  Holy  and  immarulato  Virgini'yl 
with  wliat  pniisca  to  greet  tboc  I  Itnow  not;  for  Uini  whom  the 
heavens  cannot  contain,  thou  hast  borne  in  thy  bosom. 


■  real 

it  is 

Heen 

Been; 

It 

^^hero 

glow? 

\ho  B 

iernit 

form  t 

«ler  th 

Kotre 

Oliildre 

6ducat] 

his  sen 

ftfduou 

Afisumi 

tiheir  c| 

•elf-deii 

ti^rougll 

Bfelp,  a| 

SUmmitl 

,,|Wee| 

ndans 

owasedl 

MJld  effei 

And 
iilbesj 
^  own! 


IN  NOIITH  AmEIUGA. 


23 


fi  Inudlhm 
Icrant,  tuo 

lis  fc(>1ing 
the  iull\i- 
it  iimjovity 
land ;  liow 
licvo;  Ivow 
ami   Avill'ul 
iviiig  a  tM- 
1  to  ('xposo 
laco  oi  tlie 
itit'vil  in  life 
are  incn  to 
1,  an''^  wliifli 
^o  l)t)i1y  tluiu 
lic.i  wo  con- 
o  is  so  mucli 
,  tlu>r(i  is  any 

-d  to  ]ielieve 
<:urorn ;  that 
reverent  love 
"sseil  Motlit'V 
dently  clicr- 
vactised  tliaii 
Lsive,  but  it  is 

r  llhu  whom  tk 
jin. 


,V 


real.    It  guides  and  influences  the  hearts  of  mon,  and 

it  is  found,  pure  and  glowijig,  in  tlu*  souls  o(  some  who 

Bccni  to  he  the  most  thoughtless  in  society,  of  sonu)  who 

Seem  to  he  the  driest  and  most  engrossed  hy  alVuira. 

It  hi^gins  in  eailiest  childhood,  when  the  scapular 

,and  the  medal  are  ])laced  rcnuid  the  neck,  to  h(>  kept 

vltbere  ever  afterwards,  oven  in  the  grave.     As  the  (diild 
v 
'Ifi'ows,  he  is  won  into  mend)ershii)  of  some  Sodality  of 

\ho  Blessed  Virgin,  some  llosary  So(dety,  sojiu)  Confra- 
ternity of  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary.  The  elders 
form  their  benevolent  associations,  and  place  them  un- 
lier  the  patronage  of  the  Queen  of  Angels.  Nuns  of 
yotre  Dame  and  of  the  Visitation  train  tlio  feinalt! 
^ildrcn.  Brothers  of  Mary  are  consoorated  to  the 
Education  of  boys.  The  Bishop  labors  patiently  till 
ipls  seminary  of  St.  Mary  is  completed ;  the  priest  toils 
jWduously  until  his  parish  of  the  Annunciation  or  the 
Assumption  is  established;  and  all  join  their  prayers, 
iiheir  counsel,  their  money,  their  manual  labor,  their 
Wjlf-denial  and  renunciation,  until  the  Cross  peeps 
iil^'ough  the  gi-eenwood  from  the  convent  of  Mary's 
Help,  and  the  Church  of  the  Immaculata  crowns  the 
summit  of  the  hill. 

We  close  this  chapter,  then,  with  a  short  view  of  the 
means  whereby  this  devotion  has  entered  and  in- 
creased in  this  country,  before  examining  its  progress 
and  effects  more  particularly. 

And  first,  the  Spaniard  brought  it  in  his  heart  as 
his  best  treasure  for  a  new  life,  his  best  memento  of 
his  own  old  fervent  land.     He  planted  it  in  the  ever- 


24 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  IiIary 


liii 


glades  of  Florida,  on  the  coasts  of  Alabama ;  or  bore 
it  with  patient  perseverance  into  Mexico,  California, 
T3xas,  and  even  Oregon.  In  the  various  changes 
which  this  country  has  undergone  of  political  rule  and 
advancing  civilization,  the  Iberian  was  driven  from  the 
East,  and  made  powerless  in  the  West,  and  his  faitli 
grew  lazy,  and  in  some  pbces  almost  disappeared. 
But  religious  freedom  fought  its  way  here  into  general 
acceptation,  and  now  the  love  of  Mary  is  reappearing, 
fresh  and  beautiful,  as  the  resurrection  of  the  flowers 
when  the  winter  has  passed  away. 

Then  the  Frenphman,  above  all,  the  loyal  and  pious 
Breton,  settled  Acadia." 

"  When,  in  the  tranquil  evenings  of  summer,  wlien  brightly  the  sui. 

get 
liiglited  the  village  street,  and  gilded  the  vanes  on  the  chimneys. 
Matrons  and  maidens  sat  in  snow-white  caps  and  in  kirtles. 
********** 

Solemnly  down  the  street  came  the  parish  priest,  and  the  children 
Paused  in  tlieir  play  to  kiss  the  hand  he  extended  to  bless  them. 
Reverend  walked  he  among  them,  and  up  rose  matrons  and  maiden? 
Hailing  his  slow  approach  with  words  of  affectionate  welcome. 
Then  camo  the  laborers  homo  from  the  field,  and  serenely  the  sun    , 
sank  H 

Down  to  his  rest,  and  twillglit  prevailed.    Anon  from  the  belfry 
Slowly  the  Angelits  sounded,  and  over  the  roofs  of  the  village 
Columns  of  pale-blue  smoke,  likt;  clouds  of  inccmsc  ascending,  :-;| 

iiose  from  a  hundred  hearths,  the  homes  of  peace  and  contentment 
Thus  dwelt  together  in  love  these  simple  Acadian  farmers — 
Dwelt  in  the  love  of  God  and  man." ' 

And  thence  they  were  driven  by  the  English,  iindei 

>  The  Acadia  of  the  French  settlers  embraced  Maine,  New  Brur.r 
wick,  and  Nova  Scotia. 

»  Longfellow's  "  Evangeline." 


ucirci 
;^1pe 
''ftn-itl 
liomi 
■Buti 
brave 
lUkTary 
ihe  sj 
»lreac 
yet  ui] 
Marqi 
Same  i 
Tlie 
the  Sp 
Mexico 
altliouf 
term  in,' 
sferoyecl 
for  thai 
make  tj 
Mary  tJ 
With) 
C^tholil 
the  Blel 
missioij 


'  Bancil 

C^OBS  to  t| 

and  look 


sipf 

thf  tribe  i 


IN  NoPTH  America. 


25 


la ;  or  bore 
California, 
as   changes 
3al  rule  and 
en  from  tlie 
id  bis  faith 
lisappcaretl 
into  general 
reappearing, 
£  tbe  flowers 

al  and  pious 

jriglitly  the  sin. 

le  chimneys, 
kirtles. 

■»  *         ♦ 

d  the  children 

V)less  them, 
ons  and  inaiden> 
5  welcome. 

serenely  the  sue 

m  the  belfry 
lie  village 
ascending, 
nd  contentinimt. 
arniers — 

Englisb,  imde! 

Maine,  New  Bntt^ 


icircumstances  of  barbaric  cruelty  which  wning  from 
■the  very  heart  of  a  Protestant  the  finest  poem  yet 
■written  in  America,  and  one   of  the  finest  poems  of 
•home  and  domestic  affection  extant  in  any  langxiage. 
But  the  good  seed  had  been  blown  abroad  by  those 
brave  northern  winds,  and  the  love  and  the  name  of 
Mary  had  been  carried,  through  the  wild  red  tribes,  to 
^e  shc'ies  of  Lake  Superior,  and  missionaries  were 
iJready  sighing  for  permission  to  bear  it  to  the  far  and 
♦et  unknown  Mississippi.'     And  when,  in  1673,  Father 
Marquette  discovered   and    explored   that  river,   the 
name  that  he  gave  it  was  "  Immaculate  Conception." 
^  The   Frenchman,   descending  the   Mississippi,   met 
file  Spaniards  coming  up  from  Mexico,  through  New 
Mexico,   Texas,   Arizona,    and    Arkansas.      And  yet, 
l^though  it  Avas  the  forces  of  Great  Britain  which  ex- 
ijBrminated  the   missions   of    Carolina,   and  half    de- 
fliroycd  those  of  Acadia  and  Canada,  it  was  reserved 
fttr  that  empire  to  send  forth  a  colony  which  should 
Iftake  the  central  line  Catholic,  and  give  the  name  of 
Jlary  to  the  State  they  founded. 

With  these  three  points  starts  the  History  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and,  consequently,  of  the  devotion  to 
the  Blessed  Mother  of  God  in  North  America.  What 
missioniziug  was   done    went    cither  westward  from 


>  Bancroft,  ii.  Tims  did  the  religious  zeal  of  the  Frencli  bear  the 
Cross  to  the  banks  of  the  St.  Mary  and  the  confines  of  Lake  Supeiior, 
and  look  wistfully  towards  the  homo  of  the  Sioux,  in  the  vnlley  of  the 
Mioifisippi,  five  years  before  the  New  England  Elliot  had  addressed 
th^tribe  of  Indians  that  dwelt  within  six  miles  of  Boston  harbor. 


I!"ii!i^t'' 


26 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Maryland  or  soiatliward  from  Canada,  the  Jesuits  aud 
Becollccts  reaching  the  Hudson  and  Mohawk  rivers 
and  the  State  of  Ilhuois.  But  little,  however,  was 
accomplished  until  after  the  Revolution,  in  the  interior 
of  the  States  east  of  the  Mississippi.  .  West  of  that 
gi'eat  river,  the  whites  were  few  or  none. 

But  the  emigration  began.     More  French  came  into 
the  central  States  on  the  Atlantic,  and  their  i-eligiou 
was   respected  for  the  sake  of  their  services  to  the 
conntr}-,  if  for  nothing  else.    The  Irishman  came,  hear- 
ing from  the  shores  of  his  seagirt  isle  the  faith  wliidi 
had  withstood  centuries  of  persecution,   and  sucli  a 
persecution  as  is  a  phenomenon  in  history,  havin<,'  n.. 
parallel  in  tlio  annals  of  man's  injustice  to  man.    Yaii- 
quishcd,  enslaved,  starved,  tempted,  they  clung  to  Goj 
aud  St.  Mary  the  Virgin  only  more  closely  for  all  at- 
tejnpts  to  sever  them. 

Crushed  down  by  that  preposterous  incubus  c;\K 
the  National  Church,  they  remained  and  still  roiiiai: 
devotedly  faithful  to  the  ancient  creed.    I  do  not  s])e;!: 
of  the  priest-hunting  and  sanguinary  portions  ol'  t!: 
persecutions,  for  that  violence  rather  fans  the  fliiniii 
loyalty  ;  but  of  that  dead,  stupid,  crushing  load,  wliiii 
pressing  as  it  did  on  their  very  lives  and  souls,  uoedi 
a  miracle  of  grace  to  enable  them  to  resist  it  as  tlk 
have  done. 

And   when,   commending   themselves   to   that  ilft 
Mother  in  heaven,  who  had  been  their  support  ai 
consolation,   they  bade    adieu    to    their   home,  tli 
brought  to  the  land  of  their  adoption  the  sameii: 


jlhaken 
j|Be-swa 
ide  pa 
ich  \ 
•art;  t. 
way  ^ 
lipb ;  an 
l^ggart  ( 

litd  tlie  i 
liiiavens  h 
Vklien  fr 
"long  str: 
Wdnt  to  ca 
sfiiines  of| 
road  are 
namu  is  tJij 
a  huudredl 
sohools  of  I 
ternal  face 
leataied  to  1 
empty  his 
These  ca 
i*idttstries 
American  ;j 
tenor;  to 
hill-side. 
Mary,  unofl 
pafient,  an(| 
The|ie  pari! 


.:,>,iS»*' 


IN  North  America. 


27 


Bsnits  aud 
,wk  rivers 
rover,  was 
lie  intoviot 
3st  of  that 

1  came  into 
eir  religion 
ices  to  tilt 
came,  bear- 
[aitli  \vliicli 
and  sucli  ii 
y,  having  m' 
man.    ^'an-  . 
:;lung  to  God    • 
ly  for  all  at 

iciibus  callc'. 

still  remaii 

do  not  spoal 

)rtions  of  t!: 

s  tlio  ilauit" 

<r  load,  ^vllid 

souls,  ucedt 

isist  it  as  tilt; 

to  tliat  dei 

support  iU 

ir  home,  tli 

the  samec 


alien  fidelity  to  their  rehgion.     They  spread,  like 

e-swarms,  over  the  land ;  their  strong  arms  hewed 
wide  pathways  through  tlie  forest,  and  cut  the  canals 
#hieh  were  the  life-veins  leading  to  the  country's 
li&art ;  their  hands  laid  the  long,  interminable  lines  of 
iSiilway  with  which  the  map  is  covered  as  by  a  spider's 
web ;  and  wherever  they  went  they  called  to  them 
8ag(jarl  aroon,  the  i^riest  of  their  love ;  and  when  he 
Came,  the  new  little  church  of  St.  Mary  soon  rose, 
akd  the  iincient  iSalve  liegina  resounded  beneath  the 
heavens  in  a  new  land. 

Then  from  the  Bhine  came  their  brethren,  from  that 
"long  street  of  cassocks,"  as  Charles  the  Fifth  was 
WtJnt  to  call  it,  where  pilgrims  are  seen  daily  seeking 
S^nes  of  Our  Lady ;  where  the  mile  stones  by  the 
roid  are  wayside  niches  for  her  image ;  where  her 
naiue  is  the  most  beloved  of  housshold  words ;  where 
&  hundred  poets  chant  her  praises ;  where  the  great 
sdbools  of  modern  art  love  to  reproduce  her  pure,  ma- 
ternal face ;  and  where  the  very  Protestant  has  not 
learned  to  speak  of  her  with  disrespect,  nor  utterly  to 
empty  his  heart  of  all  love  for  her. 

Uiese  came  to  take  up  a  thousand  minor  necessary 
luidiastries  which  were  too  slow  for  the  swift,  rushing 
American ;  to  occupy  small  farms  throughout  the  in- 
terior ;  to  teach  the  vineyard  how  to  bloom  upon  the 
hill-side.  And  they,  too,  brought  a  store  of  devotion  to 
Mary,  unobtrusive,  little  noticed,  but  fixed,  steadfast, 
patient,  and  indestructible  as  their  own  quiet  character. 
le  parishes  are  generallv  the  larp-est  in  America  • 


28 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


they  retain  the  pleasant  customs  of  their  fatherland; 
they  call  their  settlements  Mariastein,  Mariahilf,  and 
they  transmit  to  their  children  their  own  trust  in  and 
aflfection  for  die  heilige  Mutter  Gottes. 

Tlius,  then,  from  North,  South,  and  East,  have  the 
armies  of  blessed  Mary  marched  into  the  land.     Since 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1530,  they  have  advanced,  at  first 
slowly,  and  then  with  rapid  strides.     For  not  only  do 
the  foreign  populations  retain  and  transmit  their  ven- 
eration for  her,  but  countless  conversions  are  made 
from  heresy,  or  from  the  godlessness  which  is  more 
prevalent  and  dangerous  than  it.     And  how  many  of 
these  have  been  caused  through  affection  for  the  ma- 
ternity of  Mary,  or  by  her  dii'ect  interposition  ?     Some 
have  been  brought  into  the  true  fold  by  reading  for 
the  first  time  the  story  of  the  Church's  love  for  hor; 
some  by  wearing  her  medal ;  some  by  invoking  her  in 
time  of  need — "  O  holy  Mary,  conceived"  without  sin, 
pray  for  us  sinners  who  have  recourse  to  thee !"  and 
some  by  observing  the  devotion  of  Catholic  friends  to 
her,  and  the  beautiful  charities,  the  gentleness,  and  un- 
selfishness which  are  apt  to  spring  from  that. 

"What  wonder,  then,  that  in  her  own  sweet  montli 
of  May,  the  Father?  of  the  Council  of  1846  held  in 
Baltimore — twenty-two  bishops,  with  their  theologi- 
ans— should  solemnly  elect  as  Patroness  of  the  UniteJ 
States  of  America  tlie  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  imniacii- 
lately  conceived?  The  Fathers  had  been  trained  ic  ,. 
her  honor,  they  had  lived  for  her  service,  they  desired 
to  add  this  crowning  glory  to  their  life-long  prajet 


m  North  America. 


29 


and  praise,  and  at  the  same  time  to  show  their  zeal 
for  the  true  interests  of  this  countij,  by  entreating 
her  protection  for  it  in  this  eminent  and  public  way. 
The  next  year  this  election  was  confirmed  by  the 
sovereign  Pontiff,'  and  now  forever  in  the  grand  pub- 
he  session  that  closes  these  august  assemblies,  after 
the  To  Deum  has  been  sung,  the  cantors,  richly  coped, 
stand  before  the  altar  and  intone  their  first  acclama- 
tion to  the  Most  High  God.  That  chorused,  they 
burst  forth — 

"  BeatissimsB  Virgini  Marino,  sine  labe  original!  con- 
ceptsB,  harum  Provinciarum  Patrome,  honor  asternus!" 

And  in  chorus  the  venerable  bishops,  the  theologi- 
ans and  attendant  priests,  and  the  whole  multitude 
of  people,  repeat  the  glad  ascription,  and  then,  swell- 
ing to  vaulted  roof,  and  filling  aisle  and  nave  and 
broad  cathedral  sanctuary,  rolls  in  deep,  majestic 
chorus  the  solemn  Amen !  Amen ! 


I  Decretum  : 

Cum  R,  P.  D.  Archicpiscopiis  Biiltiinorpnsis  ej  usque  Suffraganei 
Episcopi  Concilium  Sextum  Provincialo  nicnse  Maio  anno  1846 
,  celebrantes,  supplices  petiissent  ut  a  S.  Sede  anprobari'tnr  electio 
iquam  ipsi  in  Concilio  fecerunt  Bmre.  Marise  Virginis  sine  labe  origi- 
[nali  conceptae  in  Patronam  Septentrionalis  Ameriore  Fi;fi(lerata>  Pro- 
I vinciarum ;  *  *  *  Emi.  ac  Revmi.  Patres  in  congregatio.ie  general! 
Ide  propaganda  Fido  censuerunt  supplicandura  Ssmo.  Dno  nostro  ut 
Ipiontissimis  Concilii  votis  annuere  dignentur. 

Hanc  vero  S.  Cong,  sentcntiam  in  audientia  die  7  Fobruarii  1847 
Ihabita  Ssmus  Dns  noster  Pius  divina  providentia  PP.  IX.  benigno 
Iprobavit  in  omnibus. 


80 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


CHAPTEK  II. 

The  Zhai-  ok  tiik  I'ionkkks -Ciiaiii'i.ain  and  thk  Rkoollkcth — Mothkh 
Maiiv  of  tiik  Incaiinatidn  and  Tiiii  UitsuLiNiiS— Makquk'itk  and  tiik 

ImMAUULATII    (.'oNClil'TION, 

The  scen>t  of  tlic  dtwotion  to  Mnry  is  a  lusart-folt 
zoal  foi"  tlio  glcny  of  God.  It  Avas  a  hi^luu"  motive 
than  any  worldly  one  that  bronglit  Columbus  to  San 
Salvador  and  Conc(>p(uon,  or  Champlain  to  tlio  snows 
and  forests  of  the  North. 

"The  salvation  of  a  single  soul,"  says  this  pious 
gentleman,  "  is  Avorth  more  than  the  conquest  of  an 
empire,  and  kings  should  seek  to  extend  their  domin- 
ions in  countries  A\'hero  idolatry  reigns,  only  to  cause 
their  submission  to  Jesus  Christ." '  He  undertook  his 
toils  and  labors  Avith  patience,  in  order  "  to  ])lant  in 
this  country  the  standard  of  the  Cross,  and  to  teach 
the  kuoAvledge  of  God  and  the  glory  of  His  Hely 
Name,  desiring  to  increase  charity  for  His  unfortunate 
creatures."'' 

Thinknig  that  he  would  "  commit  a  great  fault  if  lie 
emploj'ed  no  meaiis  of  bringing  the  savages  to  tlie 


'  Tlie  first  words  of  tlie  Sieur  do  Chumplain's  voyages. 

'  Phintor  en  co  pays  I't'stendart  do  la  Croix  et  leur  enseifrrier  la 
cognoissanco  do  Dieu  et  gloire  de  Son  Sainct  Nom,  estant  nostre  di'sir 
d'augnienter  la  cliarite  envers  sea  miserables  creatures. —  Voyages  (I 
dccoiivertures  depuis  1G15. 


IN  North  Ameiitoa. 


81 


,— MOTIIKU 

I'K   AND  TUK 


K^iirt-felt 
r  motivG 
H  to  San 
be  snows 

his  pious 
est  of  an 
ir  (loniin- 
r  to  cause 
iM-took  bis 
)  pl.mt  in 
I  to  teach 
His  Holy 
nt'oituuatc 

fault  if  lie 


gcs 


to  the 


enseigiicr  la 
lit  nostre  dt'sir 


kiiowIo(l^'(>  of  God,"  ho  eiiviiostly  "sou^'ht  out  some 
f^ood  Ri^li^nous  who  would  have  zoul  and  nil'vriUm  for 
God's  glory."  Such  as  these  are  always  dlscoverablo 
by  those  who  are  really  in  want  of  them,  and  Cham- 
plain  soon  found  them— men  "who  wore  borne  away 
by  holy  alleetion,  who  burjied  to  make  this  voyage,  if 
so,  by  God's  grace,  they  might  gain  some  fruit,  and 
might  plant  in  these  lands  the  standard  of  Jesus 
Christ,  with  fixed  resolution  to  Hve,  and,  if  need  were, 
to  die,  for  His  sacred  Name  !" '  So,  when  the  ship  is 
ready,  we  naturally  expect  the  next  record,  that  "each 
of  us  exanuned  himself  and  purged  himself  of  his  sins 
by  penitence  and  confession,  so  best  to  say  adieu  to 
France  and  to  place  himself  in  a  state  of  grace,  that 
each  might  be  conscientiously  free  to  give  himself  up 
into  the  keeping  of  God  and  to  the  billows  of  a  vast 
and  perilous  sea." " 

When  the  voyage  is  thus  undertaken,  what  wonder 

ihat  we  find,  along  the  first  discovered   coasts,  St. 

ary's  Bay,  Gt.  Mary's  Isle,  St.  Mary's  River ;  that 

[Montreal  is  first  called    Ville  Marie ;    that   the   first 

grant  of  land  from   the  Due   de   Ventadour  to   the 

Jesuits  is  the  lordship  or  seigneurie  of  Our  Lady  of 

ngels,  and  that  then.,  by  Mary's  lake  and  missiors  of 

ssumption  and  Annunciation,  we  sweep  away  west- 

ard  to  the  mysterious  river  of  the  Conception  ? 

And  so  the  portal  of  the  Occident  being  thrown 

5l>pen,   and  the  highways  baptized  by   the   name   of 

*  Voyages  depuis  1C15,  p.  3.  » Ibid.,  p.  8. 


32 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Mary,  licr  seivrints  cjiter  iu.     How  they  labored,  a 
sketch  of  one  or  two  of  them  will  suffice  to  show. 


MoTHEit  Mary  of  the  Incarnation. 

In  tliG  convent  gromids  of  the  Ursnlines,  at  Quebec, 
stood  li'telv  an  old  ash-trce.     More  than  two  hundred 
years  ;  '>(),  under  its  shadowy  foliage,  one  might  have 
seen  a  croAvd  of  swarth}  Indian  girls,  i^lgonquins,  Iro- 
quois, Abnalcis,  but  most  of  all,  Hurons.     Their  voices 
sounded  with  natural   sweetness  in   prayer,   as  their 
dusky  fingers  told  their  beads,  or  mingled  in  the  Sake 
Hegina  or  Ave  3Iaris  StcUa,  and  their  eyes  were  closed 
in  meditation  or  lifted  up  with  love  upon  the  figure  of 
the  crucified  Eedeemer  or  the  image  of  Our  Lady,  or 
fixed  reverently  and  attentively  upon  the  calm,  affec- 
tionate face  of  their  instructress.     And  she,  with  tlio 
holy  wisdom  and  patient  sweetness  which  are  the  gifts 
of  saints,  taught  tljem  the  love  of  God,  winning  them 
one  by  one,   and  through  them  their  families,  h-om 
their  pagan  superstitions  and  their  wretched  life,  to 
the   love   and    service    of    that  dear    Lord    and  His 
Mother,  to  whom  '^he  had  totally  'i;iven  up  her  body 
and  h  jr  soul. 

Far  away  in  central  France  she  had  left  a  gay  ami 
comfortabl'^  world,  the  society  of  the  noble,  the  ease  of 
wealth,  for  the  white  bandeau  raid  dark  veil  and  huliit 
of  the  Ursuliiie ;  laid,  in  the  year  of  onr  redemptiou 
1639,  she  completed  her  renunciation  of  all  things  bv 
forsaking  her  sunny  ns  tive  land  forever  for  the  ice-  ,- 
bound  shores,  the  pri'sations,  the   perpetual   toils  of  ^| 


the  Hi 

walls 

witli 

It^cted, 
a  von 

slioiiJd 
ancianl 

\\-iiito 
■^■deliciitl 


:x  v. 


IN  North  America. 


88 


Cannda.  Her  verj  namo  was  left  behind  her  in  the 
world  she  had  forsaken  ;  the  lady  of  the  French  salons 
bad  been  called  Madame  Sophie  Gaynet ;  the  Ursuliue 
beneath  the  ash-tree  in  Quebec  was  Mother  Mary  of 
the  Incarnation.     And  this  is,  in  brief,  her  story. 

One  holy  Christmas-tide,  in  i\er  homo  at  Tours, 
when  her  heart  and  soul  had  been  particularly  given 
up  to  union  with  God,  by  meditation  on  the  mystery 
of  His  Incarnation,  she  fell  asleep  and  dreamed.  She 
thought  that  she,  with  one  companion,  hand  in  hand, 
were  toiling  along  a  broken  and  dilHcult  road ;  more 
difficult  than  ordinary,  because  they  did  not  see,  but 
only  felt  the  obstacles.  But  they  had  plenty  of  cour- 
age, and  went  on  until  they  reached  a  place  known  as 
the  Tannery,  beyond  which  lay  their  home. 

Here  they  were   met  by  a  venerable  old   man,  in 

whose  pure,  sacred  lineaments  beamed  kindness  and 

I  protection.     It  was  he  avIio  had  watched  and  guided 

St.  Mary  and  her  Child  from  the  roofs  of  Bethlehem 

to  the  i^alm-shades  of  Egypt.     And  St.  Josc])h,  she 

thought,  conducted  them  into  a  vast  inclosure,  whereof 

the  sky  was  the  only  roof.     The  pavement  and  the 

walls  were  of  white,  spotless  alabaster,  and  arabesqued 

|with  gold.     Here  all  was  silence,  deep,  religious,  recol- 

llected.     And,  without  disturbing  tlio  holy  stillness  by 

vord,  their  guide  pointed  out  to  them  the  way  they 

should  go.    And  they  saw  a  little  hospice  of  quaint, 

mcient  architecture,  but  very  beautiful,  and  of  snow- 

irhite  marble ;  and  in  an  embrasure  of  this,  upon  a 

delicately-sculptured  seat,  sat  Our  Blessed  Lady,  St. 

c.  3* 


34 


Dkvotion  to  the  B.  v.  Mahy 


Mary,  with  the  infunt  Josus  in  her  arms;  but  th(dr 
bat'lvH  wi'vo  towanls  tho  travclk'VH. 

Mury  of  tlio  Iiuuirnation  sprang  forward  and  oni- 
brac'od  the  tliionu  of  her  Quocsn,  whilo  licr  conipanioii 
kiiolt  at  a  litllo  distancfi,  wlioro  sho  could  easily  S('o 
the  Virgin  and  her  Chihh  The  liospiee  faced  thd 
Orient.  It  was  built  upon  an  eminence,  and  at  tho 
foot  of  this  was  a  vast  space,  murky  with  clouds;  and 
through  the  tliick,  chill  mists  there  rose  into  pure  air 
tho  ftpire  and  gables  of  a  church,  but  the  budy  of  it 
was  iiidden  by  the  lusavy  fog.  A  rugged,  perilous  road 
led  down  the  rocks  i.ito  tliis  space,  winding  along  fear- 
fid  prcicipices  and  througli  cavernous  rents  in  the 
mountain.  Our  Lady's  gaze  was  fixed  upon  this 
gloomy  space,  and  th(;  heart  of  the  nun  kneeling  be- 
hind her  buiiii'd  with  desire  to  see  the  face  of  tlie 
]\I()ther  of  puit!  delights. 

And  then  the  Virgin  turned  and  welcomed  the  sup- 
pliant with  a  smile  of  inefFabhj  swecdness,  and,  bend- 
ing down,  she  gently  kissed  her  foreliead.  Then  slic 
seemed  to  whisper  something  about  the  Ursulinc  to 
the  divi)ie  child  in  her  arms.  And  when  she  had  dene 
this  three  times  the  vision  faded,  and  in  a  tremor  of 
delight  the  nun  aw(die. 

A  year  aft(>r,  vhih;  absorbed  in  mental  prayer,  tlie 
Ursuline  became  impressed  with  the  idea  that  tlic 
cold,  cloudy  space  was  Canada,  then  called  New 
France.  She  felt  the  most  powerful  attraction  to- 
wards those  unhappy  regions,  and  seemed  to  hear  a 
command  to  go  there,  and  to  found  a  house  for  Jesus 


^'iiannel 


IN  NouTii  America. 


86 


tlioii 

d  cm- 

ily  see 
i-cl   the 
at  the 
Is;  ami 
)nro  air 
ly  of  it 
)ns  roiul 
nf^  fear- 
;   in   the 
pon  thib 
pliug  1)0- 
3   of  the 

the  snp- 
nl,  beiul- 
Llii-u  slu' 
•sulhio  to 
had  thvne 
tremor  of 

»rayor,  the 
that  tk 

11, hI  :Nc\v 
lu-tion  to- 
to  hoar  a 

e  for  Jesus 


and  for  ?,rfiry ;  so,  then  niul  there,  who  promised,  if 
such  >v(>re  the  Avill  of  Ood,  to  obey  the  inspinition  if 
He  would  sui)])ly  the  meniiH.  She  wtis  ri};ht  in  her 
foiiclusions;  this  was  her  voeation  ;  the  shores  «)f  Iho 
1)1  (»ad  St.  Lawrence  were  to  form  the  seene  of  lier 
liil)()rsfor  move  than  thirty  years ;  and  then,  blessing 
and  blessed,  she  was  to  dc^purt  thence  for  lier  (iternal 
liomo  in  heaven. 

In  October,  lO.IG,  comes  a  hotter  from  the  Jesuit 
Fatliers,  inviting  her  most  urgently  to  join  them.  It 
is  dated  from  the  mission  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion ;  it  contains  an  anecdote  of  how  the  Fathers  had 
made  a  vow  to  give  the  names  of  Mary  and  Jos(>ph  to 
the  first  persons  baptized  by  them  ;  how  they  had  ac- 
cniiiplished  that  vow ;  how  Joseph  died  a  holy  Chris- 
tian death  soon  after,  but  Mary  was  living,  and  was 
I  the  first  Indian  who  had  brought  her  children  for 
baptism  and  edncuition  to  the  missionaries.  Their 
converts  nundiered  several  hundreds,  and  the  Fathers 
often  heard  resounding  from  the  leafy  aisles  c'f  the 
forest  the  sweet  names  of  Jesus  and  of  Mary. 

The  saints  have  a  straightforward  simplicity  '  .  '^"ilr 
lives  which  prevents  our  ever  being  surpri.  ,.  it  their 
actions.  After  her  vision,  her  waking  convictions  as 
to  its  significance,  and  the  letters  from  Canada,  we  are 
l(  !idy  to  see  her  seated  in  the  cabin  of  the  St.  Joseph, 
and  writing  placidly  to  her  superior  :  "  There  are  signs 
of  a  storm,  the  captain  says  ;  we  are  at  war  with  Spain 
^iid  England  also,  and  may  meet  their  cruisers  in  the 
Channel ;  but  those  are  not  reasons  for  being  troubled 


3G 


Devotion  to  tiik  B.  V.  Mauy 


now.  Ill  fact,  ono  ImH  no  trouble  now;  tlio  (HfTu'ultj 
is  to  oxpliiiii  or  uiulcrstaiul  tliiit  infiiiitcl}"  swoct  i'cpoHo 
wliicli  I'ollowH  one's  coniplcto  a1)iin(l()ninont  to  God; 
lorsf/ii'oii,  s'csf,  (lt»nic  ime  bovne/ois  a  Dicn." ' 

Tliovo  wcro  no  crowtlH  of  iifti'ctioniito  friends ;  no 
W(!ll-liiicd  crtrriu^(> ;  no  wuvni  and  brilliant  drawinji;- 
rooin  ready  for  luir  in  Canada :  lier  weleonio  was  to 
hear  the  8avafi;es  eliant  lijnnis  in  their  own  lan{jjua;^'(>H; 
to  apo  five  hundred  Huron  names  upon  a  year's  bap- 
tismal register  ;  to  receive  her  yoimg  future  pupils  ns 
they  came  forward,  and  to  mark  their  names,  Mary 
Negabmah,  and  Mary  Amiskwam,  and  Mary  Abateno, 
and  Mary  Gamitien  ;"  and  then  to  go  to  such  house 
as  she  had,  and,  with  her  sisterhood,  commence  at 
once  her  thirty  years'  occupation. 

It  is  not  much  of  a  house,  that  convent  and  semi- 
nary of  the  Ursulines  ;  between  the  cracks  of  the  planks 
yon  can  see  the  bright  winter  stars ;  and  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  keep  a  candle  burning  in  the  rooms.    It 
is  no  easy  matter  to  accommodate  all  tluar  pupils,  and 
the  sisterhood  in  the  bargain.     The  beds,  for  instance, 
made  of  pine-plank,  have  to  be  arranged  in  tierb,  after 
the   manner   of    berths    in   a   canal-boat.      They  are 
obliged  to  cut  iip  their  own  bedclothes  to  make  gar- 
ments for  the  poor  little  Indian  girls  as  they  come  in, 
and  their  chief  articles  of  diet,  indeed  their  only  ones 
for  a  while,  are  salt  fish  and  lard. 

'  Choix  dcs  Lettros  Ilietoriqucs  do  la  Vo  .oriiblf  M'to  Marie  de  I'ln- 
carnntion,  promirTe  supcrieure  des  Ursuliaes  de  Quebec,  p.  20. 
'  Ibid.,  pp.  25,  27. 


rating 


'4'  Q'laud . 
^fil'Iiu;  dil 
®«g''  et  d'hu 
^  lettres,  p\ 


IN  Noirni  America. 


87 


Uculty 
,  God; 
ulrt ;  1U1 
waH  to 

ir'B  l)ivv-       : 
^ni\)UH  as 
lis,  Miiry 
A\)atein>, 
.cli  lioxiso 
incncc  lit 

and  scmi- 

is  almost 
rooms.    It    . 
mpils,  and 
)!•  ins-'tance, 
ticvfc,  attci 
They  ave 
make  gar- 
eY  coino  iu, 
tr  only  o'ies 


And  tluMi  tlio  children.  They  aro  not  nil  in<(>  IMavy 
Oaiiiiticn,  who  ncods  no  Himv  to  daybreak  devotion; 
who  in  uj)  with  the  sun,  reeitiiif,'  her  rosary,  and  who 
Rings  beautiful  liymns  to  the  .IJK^ssed  Virgin  ?n  tho 
Huron  tongue.  Th(>y  aro  not  lilio  her  wluui  they  come 
out  of  tho  woods.  But  tluiy  aro  brought  to  tlu)  good 
sisters  with  no  nioro  cL)thiug  than  u  solid  coat  of 
groaso,  well  rubbed  in  by  their  panuits.'  And  to  got 
that,  and  worse,  off  of  thosts  httle  bodies,  tahi^s  a  pro- 
found and  patient  scrubbing,  and  a  fre(]U(Uit  changing 
lof  garments  for  months.  Nice  work  for  tlioso  delicate 
il'i'ench  ladies;  but  thoy  dispute  for  tho  office  in  their 
[hunible,  gentle  way.  Magdalen  do  Chauvigny,  Dame 
ido  la  Peltrie,  gets  it  tho  first  year ;  Mother  IMary  of 
ISt.  Josei)h  monopolizes  it  tho  next.     And  while  the 

■V.I'' 

ilBcrubbiiij^'  goes  on,  and  iiidcoil  ulwaj's,  there  are  men 
iSand  women  Avaiting  in  the  parlor  to  bo  fed  through  the 
grating  by  others  of  tho  nuns. 

Tlw  snuill-pox  entered  their  semmary  and  turned  it 
into  a  hospital.  Tho  sisters  all  resigned  themselves 
•io  catch  it,  and,  if  it  were  God's  will,  to  die  of  it ;  for 
they  were  in  attendance  day  and  night  upon  their 
patients,  and  lived  all  together  in  small  and  crowded 
ftpartmonts;  but,  through  the  care  of  Mother  Mary, 
%)t  one  sister  was  attacked.  Add  to  this  the  porj)et- 
t^\  wars  with  the  treacherous  Iroquois ;  the  struggles 


ic,  p.  20. 


de  Vln- 


•  Qmmtl  on  los  nous  donne  dies  sont  nuos  comme  un  vcr.  *  *  * 
^eliiut:  dillgonci)  quu  Ton  fasso,  quoiciu'on  Ich  chimii^o  souvent  de 
Ullgi'  ot  d'habits,  on  no  peu  de  long  tenipa  upiiiaur  la  verniine. — Choix 
dM  lettres,  p.  31 


38 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


of  tlie  mcclicine-mcn  to  retain  their  sviperstitious  emi- 
uonee  among  the  savages, — that  sraall-pox,  for  in- 
stance, and  all  these  new  diseases  come,  they  say, 
from  the  magio  of  the  wliites ;  the  seeming  impossi- 
bility of  teaching  the  chler  ones  to  bridle  their  in- 
famoiis  passions ;  the  desolation  of  the  long  winters ; 
the  forests  echoing  with  savage  howls;  the  repeat' d 
shocks  of  earthquake ;  the  dreary  wastes  of  snow 
which  spread  around ;  the  news,  now  and  then,  of  ta 
missionary's  martyrdom ;  surely  these  must  break 
down  our  courage. 

Not  a  bit  of  it.  "  Wo  are  perfectly  well ;  wo  siug 
oftener  and  better  than  we  did  in  France.  The  air  is 
excellent — a  little  cool,  perhaps,  but  excellent ;  so,  you 
see,  it  is  a  Paradise  on  earth,  Avhere  the  croH:scs  and 
tliorns  spring  up  so  lovingly,  that  if  one  is  pierced  by 
them  it  is  only  to  let  new  floods  of  love  in  upon  the 
heart.  Pray  God  to  give  me  the  grace  to  love  Him 
alwavs." ' 

But  Mother  Mary's  troubles  and  trials  caanot  be 
given  here ;  a  mere  list  of  them  would  take  up  too 
much  room.  Only  one  or  two  of  them  can  be  meu- 
tioned,  Avhich  offer  themselves  apropos  of  our  subject 

It  is  the  night  of  December  thirtieth,  "  in  the  Octave 
of  our  Lord's  Nativity."     Sister  Martha  has  a  lm;:e ' 
baking  on  hand  for  to-morrow,  and  forgets  the  fire  in 
the  bakery,  which  is  exactly  under  our  seminary.    Tlie 
night  prayers  are  over,  and  all  go  to  bed,  to  sleep  a; 

'  Clioix  des  lettres,  p.  48 


*^<'raj)j 


i('(^,  so  ]J 


?aHer  cjj 
^  give  Jiol 
*^eir  rooil 

roof  fulls  i| 
^AJl  in  al 
^i  gocsf 
be  (ll 


ivis  emi- 
for  in- 

ley  say, 
impossi- 
tlicir  in- 
■svintors ; 
rcpeat''(l 
o£  snow 
tlien,  of  a 
cist   break 

1 ;  we  SlBg 
Tlie  air  is 
nt ;  so,  you 
croKSOS  ai"^ 
pier 


3rcecl  by 


in  upon 


tlie 


;o 


love  Hiw 


IN  North  America. 


39 


IS  caBnot  be 
take  lip  too 
lean  be  men- 
our  subject, 
m  tlie  Octave 
lias  a  W 
lots  the  five  in 
minary.    'I^'* 
a,  to  sleep  »* 


well  as  the  cold  will  let  tlicm.  A  few  lioiirs  afterward 
we  find  tliat  some  of  tliem — poor  souls  ! — have  gone  to 
bed  Avith  their  shoes  on,  so  terrible  is  the  chill  Ca- 
nadian air.  And,  at  midnight,  Mother  Mary  of  the 
j  Serapliim,  who  has  the  care  of  the  children,  and  sleeps 
[at  the  door  of  the  seminar}',  rushes  into  our  dormitory 
ftith  the  cry,  "  Wake,  sisters,  wake  !  The  house  is  on 
ire !    Up,  and  let  us  save  the  children !" 

As  they  spring  up,  the  flames,  red  and  Avild,  leap 
brackling  through  the  pine-floor  of  the  ;  i  {)artment.  The 
[other  Assistant  and  Sister  St.  Lawrence  break  down 
16  convent  grating,  which  is  fortunately  of  wood,  and 
let  out  a  portion  of  the  scholarf-'  that  way.  Our 
[other  Mary,  trying  to  save  some  of  the  chapel  fuvni- 
ire,  gets  caught  betAveen  tAvo  fires,  hesitates  as  to 
[hethcr  she  should  throAV  the  largo  criuritix,  luu*  OAvn, 
it  of  the  AvindoAv ;  thinks  that  that  AA'ould  be  irrever- 
ice,  so  kisses  it  Avith  IoavIj'  love  and  faith,  and  leaA'cs 
ito  the  flames.  Then  she  escapes  into  the  bell-toAvcr, 
[just  missed  by  the  falling  bell,  and  gets  out,  bare- 
3ted,  into  the  December  snow. 
8ister  Ignatia  has  a  theological  difiiculty.  The 
trailer  children  are  still  up  stairs  :  is  it  permitted  her 
iigive  her  life  for  theirs?  Meantime,  she  goes  up  to 
ttteir  room,  and  lets  them  doAvn,  all  safe,  from  the 
wdow,  one  by  one.  Then,  Avith  a  fiery  crash,  the 
iwf  falls  in,  and  Sister  Ignatia's  difficultv  is  solved. 
11  in  authority  appear  to  have  presence  of  mind, 
ph  goes  first  to  her  proper  post,  to  see  if  any  thing 
be  done  there.     Mother   Superior,  Avho  has  the 


Il!iilili"i! 


40 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maet 


keys,  goes  to  set  tlie  doors  wide  open,  and  stands 
there  calling  to  the  sisters  by  name.  But  no  one 
comes  forth — no  one  replies ;  then  she  throws  herself 
at  the  feet  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  makes  a  vow- 
its  terms  we  do  not  know — for  the  preservation  of  her 
sisters ;  and,  after  a  short  agony  of  doubt,  she  finds 
them  all  safe,  their  poor  Httle  Indian  girls  with  them. 

Safe  thev  are,  but  nine-tenths  of  them  barefooted, 
with  a  single  garment  to  cover  them,  standing  in  tlie 
December  snow.  But  Mother  Mary  could  see,  by  the 
tranquillity  and  submission  of  their  faces,  that  God  was 
in  their  hearts.  "We  were  stripped,"  she  says,  "as 
bare  as  Job,  but  then  we  had  better  friends." 

In  fact,  the  people  had  gathered  by  this  time  roiiml 
them;  the  Jesuits  from  their  house,  the  French  and^ 
Indians  from  the  neighborhood.     One  man,  after  star-  ""I 
ing  in  amazement  at  the  perfect  calm  and  resignatioE 
of  the  nuns,  was  heard  to  say,  "  Either  these  womeu 
are  mad,  or  they  have  an  exceeding  love  for  God." 

Then  all   are  hurried   off,  some  to   the  neighbors 
houses,  some  to  the  large  parlor  of  the  Jesuits ;  tl: 
nuns  to  the  hospital,  where  the  sisters  clothe  tlu:: 
with  their  own  gray  habits,  and  make,  for  the  tiiii: 
being,  scRur  griscs  of  them.     On  the  way  thitlior  tli ' 
are  met  by  some  good  people  with  welconi'^  slior 
and  one  of  the  first  pair  is  given  to  Mother  Snixni.' 
in  right  of  her  age  and  position.     Mother  Mary  of  tl 
Incarnation  does  not  say  that  she  got  a  pair,  wliicli: 
very  good  evidence  that  she  did  not ;  in  which  c;i> 
this  deHcately  nurtured    woman    must  have  wallr 


rar  agaii 


Ipieces  oui 
"1*8  accusJ 
Wiher  misi 
ibong  till 

.^  escape) 

*#OM'U    off 

<^em,  all 

^tJier  Bij 

^Ifrfl  caref 

^ge  veinJ 


[  stands 
no  one 
s  herseli 
',  a  vow- 
on  of  liM 
she  finds 
til  them, 
larefootecl 
in""  in  tlio 
see,  by  tlie 
at  God  was 
3  says,  "as 

time  ronwl 
Freucli  ami' 
a,  after  star- ^ 

resignation  I 
^liese  womenj 

)!•  God." 

e  ncigldiofij 

Jesuits ;  tlw! 

clotlio  theffll 

for  t\ie  timi 

y  tliitiicr  m 

slcome  slices) 

tlier  Snpci'i": 

r  Mary  o^  >^; 

pair,  AvliicV' 

in  wliicii  c;v 

have  v^flll^' 


IN  NOETH  AmEEICA. 


41 


some  quarter  of  a  mile,  barefooted,  through  the  snow, 
to  the  Hospital  of  the  Gray  Sisters. 

And  now  all  their  earthly  pos'  3Ssions  were  gone — 

house,  furniture  and  raiment.     Nothing  remained  to 

I  them  but  a  black,  ugly  mass  of  ashes  and  ruin,  whence 

sa  column  of  gloomy  smoke  rose,  sluggishly  curling  up 

|througli  the  gray  frosty  dawn.     Not  a  whit  downcast 

is  Mother  Mary.     "Divine    Providence,"   she    says, 

will  help  us  to  pay  our  debts  and  to  build  again. 

Chat  has  placed  us  in  our  present  sad  condition.    That 

nil  set  us  up  again,  through  the  most  holy  Virgin,  qf 

vhose  succor  u'c  arc  so  assured,  that  we  live  in  peace 

that  direction.      What    she   does  not   of    herself, 

le  will  excite  friends  to  do  for  us ;  and  so  in  time  she 

rUldoaU.'" 

Those  miserable  Iroquois  were  the  greatest  difficulty 

all.    They  would  wage  war,  make  peace,  and  wage 

far  again.     They    scalped,  burned,   and    he^v^cd    in 

leces  our  good  Hurons  and  Algonquins.   Their  proph- 

\b  accused  our  missionaries  of  bringing  disease  and 

ler  misfortunes  upon  them.     Father  Jogues  goes  off 

long  them  to  have  his  fingers  cut  off,  joint  by  joint ; 

escape,  but  only  to  go  back   again  and  win  the 

)wn  of  martyrdom.     Father  Daniel  is  burned  by 

5m,  all  clad  in  his  vestments,  at  the  foot  of  his  altar. 

^ther  Breboeuf  has  the  flesh  torn  from  his  body — 

carefully  in  thin  strips,  so  as  not  to  break  the 

je  veins ;  has  boiling  water  poured  upon  his  head 

*  Choix  des  lettres,  2ia 


42 


DkVOTION   to  'J'llK    I).  V.    ]\rAllY 


'1 
1 


in  mookrrv  of  biiptisni;  luw  liis  n.iils  lortj  onl,  by 
piiuuM's ;  luul  passes  t'nmi  lli.at  toilurd  into  Uio  (itormil 
glory. 

All  those  M(>r(^  fi-i(Muls  o'"  -^iiry  of  \\n'  liiciinmtioii. 
"  Ah,"  slio  si}i;lis,  "  if  we  cduIiI  only  {^'cUioIil  (»f  s()tii(> 
Tr()(|uois  i;irls  to  cihicalo  uiiil  send  hiwk  ;is  niission- 
iiries  to  (litMr  lieiulisli  elnnsnuMi !  ]>iit.  some!  of  Uie 
Froiu'li  are  as  hud  as  IIh*  Trcxpiois.  Souk^  lia\e  eonie 
hitluu'  «)iilv  to  trtule,  williout  nwc  for  souls;  and  the 
easiest  trade  is  nia  le  by  means  t)f  brandy,  liic^-watiM-. 
Our  best  eonviM'ts,  some  of  tliem,  a,re  lured  aslriiy; 
«nir  ViM'V  sehool-<;irls  get  to  love  (In*  hellish  beverage, 
whieh  they  i;et  wIkmi  they  >^i>  to  see  their  parents. 
The  traders  are  exeomniuniitatcd,  but  they  laugh  ni 
that.  All  our  elVorls  will  fail,  unless  it  pl(>aso  (Jod  to 
interlere  in  our  India  11'." 

Odd  ilocs  iutiM'I'ei't",  he  shaki^s  that  ""ar  noi'.'hin'ii  land 
uiili  an  e;irlli([uake.  It  was  in  ](!(II]  thai  this  oreui'red, 
Houst's  rocked  U>  and  fr.\  eraeked,  and  fell  to  ruiii; 
the  atnio-splure  was  ilust ;  stei^ples  swung  like  tre(\s 


111 


a   storm ;    ihe   nii 


••ht\ 


H.    ] 


jawreuee    ran 


dl 


(MlOW 


sulphur  ;  the  laui})  of  the  JJk^ssed  Sacrament  f(dl  ihi'eo 
times  in  the  chureli  of   ]jea7i[U'o.     A.  mouidain  near 


Tadounsac  sank  wholly  into  the   vawni 


ng  car 


til. 


aiu 


the  valleys  rose  into  phdiis.  "  The  Avails  of  our  con- 
vent split  ;  we  were  nearly  ehokt^d  Avitli  dust,  asphyxi- 
ated vitli  bituminous  and  sulphurous  exhalations. 
Half  of  the  ni>ighbi>ring  forest  Avas  destroyed  ;  soiiio 
lives  were  lost ;  but  God  was  with  us !" 

The  brandy-traders,  at  least,  wore  well  frightened ; 


and  ft  pio 
an  end  U) 
from  llieso 
of  iiKiasuri 
used  by   tl 

tlie  shocks 
Mliii(!  o(,Ii((f 
All  (l.,.so 
iifirv  :dl,   b 
delic.'de    w( 
more  devoni 
to  need  rej) 
wrote!  a  eatei 
Hiie  traiisl;it( 
pil<"d  a  dieti 
slu)   sny.s,    " 
acconiit  I  itn 
Wliat  tluM 
U'ore  im2)oss; 
Thoy  \\'ci\)  al| 
courage,  eonf 
ing,  sim])]o 
no  longer  y( 
heathen  relal 
wife  prayed, 
liclp  mo.     Cul 
and  shall  belif 
when  my  wifJ 
Indian,  "I  g( 
canoe  to  fi.sh 


IN  NOUTH  AmKUTCA. 


48 


and  a  ])i()iiH  f^'ovonior,  coniirig  ovor  from  Franco,  put 
an  ond  to  ihrm  for  ilid  i)r(ss('nt.  And  wo  learn,  too, 
from  tluiso  rceords,  a  urw  and  very  a(lvisal)l()  nniiliod 
of  nicaHuriii}^'  timo—a  nioiliod  n»nt'.li  and  Hnecossfnlly 
uscul  by  tlioH<i  (!iirly  TlrsnliiicH  in  QncdxH!.  Sonns  of 
tlu*  sliocks,  llicy  icll  ns,  only  laHtcd  an  Ave  Maria, 
wliilo  oUku'H  W(M-o  as  lonj^  as  two  Illlsr.n'trs: 

All  tlicsc  irialu,  and  all  tlio  daily  luird  labor,  Hoomod, 
after  ill),  by  (lod's  bcntulietion,  oidy  to  niako  tlioHO 
dclit'iite  wonuni  stronj^or,  ]ia])])i('r,  iK^altliicr,  daily 
niovo  dovonf..  W.-.iry  of  tlio  Inciarnation  n(iV(ir  HO(unod 
to  nood  repose;  tcNieliMif^,  counsel  1  in <^%  praying.  Slio 
Avrote  a  eatcH-liisin  in  Huron,  and  three  in  Ali^'onquin. 
8iie  translattnl  a  lar^e  eolle(!tion  of  ju-aycrs,  and  com- 
piUnl  a  dietionary  in  tlio  Indian  ton^ui^s.  "And  I," 
she  says,  "I  .mi  so  usel((ss,  that  I  troniblo  at  the 
a<*(uiunt  I  must  render  before  Ood.' 

What  then  wore  her  consolations  ?  for,  in  fact,  it 
wore  impossible  to  support  such  a  life  wiiliout  some. 
They  w(!ra  abundant  enough  to  fdl  Mary's  lioart  with 
courage,  (U)ntid(>nee,  iind  love.  There  was  the  touch- 
ing, simple  faith  of  tho  Indians.  One  poor  couple, 
no  longer  j'oung,  were  d(!sertod  with  scorn  by  their 
heathen  relatives,  and  tho  olil  man  was  ill.  So  his 
wife  prayed,  "  O  Thou  Vvho  hast  made  all.  Thou  canst 
help  me.  Cure  my  husband ;  for  we  believe  in  Thee, 
and  shall  believe  in  Thee,  even  though  he  die."  "  And 
when  my  wife  had  made  that  prayer,"  said  the  poor 
Indian,  "I  got  well.  But,"  he  continued,  "I  had  no 
canoe  to  fish  from,  and  know  not  how  to  make  one. 


44 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


But  I  }irayc(l  with  all  my  heart,  '  O  Creator  of  all,  help 
mo,  I  beseech  Thee ;  for  Thou  knowest  I  hare  never 
made  a  canoe.'  \n{l  then  I  set  to  woi  k  at  it.  Coni(3, 
look  at  it ;  it  is  periect !" 

Then,   again,  the  Indians  got  into   a  habit,  when 
setthig  out  on  their  hunting  expeditions,  of  leaving' 
their  little  daughters  in  the  hands  of  the  Ursulin(!s, 
and  by  this  means  good  seed  was  sown  in  those  litllo 
lie.'ufcs  and  matured  there,  and  one  day  boro  a  hun- 
dred-fold.    The  baptisms  increased  yearly.     Mow  la- 
borers for  the  rip(!ning  harvest   camo  from  Franco; 
the  converted  Indian  himself  became  a  messenger  of 
good  tidings  to  his  brethren,  sufl'ering,  many  a  tiiiio, 
torture  and  death  with  the  fervor  and  constancy  of  a 
martyr.     Above  all,  the  venerable  Mary  of  the  Incaj-- 
uation  saw  that  sweetest  fruit  of  truth,  that  most  civil- 
izing  and   gentle   making  of  influences,   devotion  to 
Mary  Mother  of  God,  spreading  deeply  and  broailly 
throughout  the  Huron  and  Algonquin  tribes,  and  sink- 
ing more  profoundly  into  the  souls  of  her  own  soiiio- 
times  too  light  countrymen. 

There  was  the  Abenaki  tradition  of  a  virgin's  son, 
who  had  repaired  the  world  after  the  great  deluge,  ami 
who  was  to  come  to  earth  again.  In  the  Huron  naiiio 
of  this  Being,  which  is  Messou,  the  good  Ursuliiics 
loved,  probably  correctly,  to  find  Messiah.  Then,  be- 
sides the  names  of  places  which  marked  the  land  to 
her  devotion,  the  Feast  of  the  Virgin's  Immaculate 
Conception  was  the  patronal  feast  of  all  those  coun- 
tries.    All  the  people,  haUtans  and  Christian  Indians, 


\m 


IN  NoilTlI  AMiaiinA. 


45 


were  wout  to  recur  to  the  Holy  Family  in  all  tlwur  dis- 
tressoH,  and  not  in  vain.  Mary  of  tli<!  IncNMiiation 
knew  one  blind  man  who  had  Ixjsouj^dit  St.  Ann(!,  tho 
Mother  of  Our  Lady,  to  restore  his  sij^dit.  The  Sunt 
caused  it  to  be  made  known  to  him  that  that  boon 
must  come  by  invocation  of  the  Holy  Family,  and  so 
he  prayed  and  received  his  sif^ht.  Louis,  a  Cluistiau 
Huron,  taken  by  the  sanj^uinary  Iroquois  ajid  con- 
demned to  be  burncul  alive,  Avas  saved  by  the  Dlessed 
Virgin.  He  himsiilf  told  the  Ursulino  how,  as  he 
prayed  earnestly  to  Our  Lady  for  help,  in  the  night, 
he  felt  the  knots  of  the  sinew-cord  whi(di  bound  him 
loosening  on  his  right  hand.  Then  it  fell  cfl,  and  left 
his  fingers  free  to  undo  the  otluT  k'lovs,  and  so  pass- 
ing unseen  through  several  hundriul  sleeping  IrcKjuois, 
he,  thanks  to  St.  Mary,  escaped  safe  to  Quebec. 

What  a  pleasure  to  see  the  Indian  girls,  who  had 
loft  the  sendnary  to  pass  the  winter  in  hous(!hold  du- 
ties Avith  their  parents,  coming  back  in  the  spring, 
laden  Avitli  early  floAvers  to  croAvn  the  beloved  image  of 
the  Queen  of  May !  Their  first  visit,  on  returning,  Avas 
to  the  Idlest  Holy  Sacrament ;  their  next,  to  bring  their 
flowers  to  decorate  the  statue  of  their  beneficent 
Mother.  Even  among  the  troops,  our  venerable  Re- 
ligious knew  of  five  hundred  soldiers  who  Avore  the 
scapular  and  daily  said  the  Rosary.  Indeed,  this 
beautiful  devotion  of  the  beads,  to  which  all  grades  of 
men,  the  simplest  and  the  highest  intelligences,  be- 
come so  fervently  attached,  Avas  seldom  neglected  in 
NcAv  France.     Mother  Mary  asked  a  young  Indian, 


4G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mart 


who,  ■ooij  after  his  baptism,  had  j3()ni3  upon  ^  long 
hunt,  how  he  had  managed  when  temptation  assailed 
him  'All,"  he  reidied,  "I  was  often  tempted  lo  sin; 
btr*'  lien  T  took  ivy  beads  in  my  hand,  and  autd,  Have 
pitv  on  me,  Jesus,  Thou  Avho  deteiminest  all;  chase 
n ..  A_)  ' hn  evil  spirit,  and  have  mercy  upon  mo ;'  and 
then  tL    ^,  mptation  would  de})art." 

Another,  an  old  man,  gave  himself  up  ontirel}'  to  the 
instruction  of  his  brethren.  They  used  to  see  him  with 
Victor,  an  ancient  Algonquin,  a  man  of  faith  and  love, 
but  of  decayed  memory,  reciting  the  beads  thrice  over 
at  one  visit.  Many  of  the  good  souls,  even  in  their 
long  and  exciting  hunts,  never  once  omitted  to  say  the 
five  decades  daily ;  and  some,  taken  prisoners  and 
doomed  to  die  with  the  martj'r  Jogues,  when  the  beads 
were  taken  from  them  by  the  cruel  Iroquois,  said  the 
prayers  u2)on  their  fingers ;  and  when  these  were  cut 
oil",  ioint  by  joint,  they  said  them  on  the  bleeding 
stumps — a  IloKonj  indeed.  Where  such  faith,  such 
devotion  were,  it  was  not  possible  for  our  gentle  Queen 
and  Mother  to  leave  unanswered  the  fervent  prayers  of 
her  children.     One  instance  out  of  many. 

A  young  lieutenant,  coming  too  late  to  say  the  Ro- 
sary with  the  rest,  walked  out  into  the  bordering  woods 
to  pray  apart.  And  there,  while  kneeling,  the  sentinel 
took  him  for  a  lurking  Iroquois,  for  it  was  in  time  of 
war,  and  firing  at  him  from  the  distance  of  ten  paces, 
shot  him  in  the  head,  a  finger's  breadth  above  the 
temple.  But  Our  Lady  preserved  him ;  he  fell,  but 
rose  again,  with  his  beads  still  in  his  hands  ;  the  ball 


was  6 

efl'ects 

cliurch 

our  de 

Mother 

and  to- 

tell  you 

by  pray 

So,  th 

faith,  Jio 

vaut  of  I 

and  whej 

dence  ai 

upon  hei 

who  pres( 

Mary  of 

year  of 


■1 

■       We  lia 

;..; 

S    Bressany 

Sulpician 

J^^^^l 

Marquett 

SH^^I 

as  he  was 

sipi^i,  anc 

4^9 

childhood 

floing-  all 

^■^B 

maculate 

Of  an  a 

IN  North  America. 


47 


was  e  ctrncteJ  from  tho  si  all,  nnd  he  felt  no  very  evil 
efl'ucts  IVom  tho  wound.  Nay,  where  tho  f anions 
church  of  St.  Anne  overlooks  the  broad  St.  Lawrence, 
our  de..  Lord  manifested  His  love  for  His  blessed 
Mother  by  daily  miracles  accorded  to  her  intt'reession  ; 
and  to-day,  the  rough  boatman  of  those  regions  will 
tell  you  countless  instances  of  mercy  sought  and  won 
by  pra}er  to  Mary,  liis  patroness  and  Queen. 

So,  then,  amid  such  trials  and  such  consolations,  in 
faith,  hope,  patience,  and  charity,  did  this  devour  ,er- 
vant  of  Mary  pass  thirty  years  and  more  of  h< "  hi.  • 
and  when  worn  out  at  hist,  with  the  same  swee^  eo  ii- 
deuce  and  resignation,  she  crossed  her  pak  hands 
ui)ou  her  bosom,  and  gave  up  her  soul  to  the  y  iigin, 
who  presented  it  lovingly  to  her  God  and  Son.  Mother 
Mury  of  the  Incarnation  ceased  from  her  labors  in  the 
year  of  grace  1G72. 

Father  James  Marquette. 


We  have  Breboeuf  and  Daniel,  Jogues  and  None  and 
Bressany,  the  Jesuits,  the  Eecollects,  the  Oblates,  the 
Sulpicians  to  choose  from,  and  we  take  Father  James 
Marquette  as  the  most  American,  so  to  say,  inasmuch 
as  he  was  the  discoverer  and  ..tplorer  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  as  remarkably  devout  to  Mary,  having  in 
childhood  been  consecrated  to  her,  and  in  manli(Jod  as 
doing  all  for  God  through  especial  devotion  to  the  Im- 
maculate Conception. 

Of  an  ancient  family  of  Laon,  always  famed  for  their 


48 


Devo'hon  to  the  B.  v.  Mary 


'I 


f! 


valor  in  war  and  their  Kincerity  in  devotion,  this  glori- 
ous Horvant  of  Mary  was  born  in  the  year  10;I7.     Until 
tho  ago  of  seventeen,  his  mother.  Hose  do  la  Hallo,  had 
educated  him,  inspiring  him  with  that  profound,  ar- 
dent, tender,  and  unwavering  devotion  to  Our  Lady 
which  was  the  inainsjjring  of  his  life.     When  ho  had 
reached  his  seventeenth  year  she  gave  him  up  to  God 
in  the  Society  of  Jesus.     Twelve  years  from  that  dedi- 
cation he  landcid  in  Canada.     INIother  Mary  of  the  In- 
carnation was  one  of  those  who  welcomed  him  to  tho 
toils  and  self-sacrifice  which  his  sacred  ambition  de- 
sired.    New  York  Avas  red  with  missionary  blood,  and 
he  longed  for  that  field  of  labor,  but  it  was  not  to  bo 
his.    First  of  all  ho  must  learn  the  languages,  but  these 
he    soon    mastered.      Then   ho   began   his   westward 
march,  and  first  halted  at  tho  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  where 
the  Cross  had  been  planted  by  Father  Isaac  Jogues 
twenty  years  before,  but  had  fallen.     It  was  for  Mar- 
quette and  AUouez  to  replant  it,  and  to  build  the  first 
Catholic  church  there,  where  now  stands  tho  cathedral 
of  St.  Mary,  and  the  aj^ostolic  Bishop  Baraga  pre- 
sides. 

From  this,  further  west  to  the  Ottawa,  was  a  mis-gion 
almost  hopeless,  from  the  abandonment  of  that  people 
to  tlie  worship  of  their  own  paf  'ions.  But  now  the 
great  dream  of  his  life  began  to  rise  in  his  heart,  soon 
to  take  possession  of  it  altogether.  He  had  heard  from 
straggling  hunters,  as  from  general  rumor,  that  out  to- 
wards the  sunset  a  mighty  river  took  its  rise  and  rolled 
its  floods,  for   measureless   miles,   through   populous 


d 

o 

long  wisf 

hot's  arJ 

the  Imm| 

The  h( 

it  took  ni 

it  was  roi 

of  whiclii 

wide  stral 

and  of  m| 


IN  NoiiTH  America. 


49 


pagan  lands,  to  tlio  fur  southorn  Hoaa.  Ah !  to  dis- 
cover tluH — to  laiuich  hinisi'lf  on  those  swift  tiilos  with 
his  cross,  his  beads,  and  his  breviary !  not  to  win  a 
name  among  the  hjarnod  of  the  earth,  tlie  upphiuse  of 
scienco,  the  gratitude  of  trade,  but  to  bear  to  those  U>st 
tribes  the  ghid  news  of  a  Bedeemer ;  to  people  heaven 
with  their  ransomed  souls ;  to  teach  those  pathless 
l)rairics  and  unhewn  woods  to  ro-echo  the  sweet  names 
of  Jksus  and  of  Maiiy  ! 

This,  Father  James  Marcpiette  felt,  was  to  bo,  for 
the  future,  his  ambition.  So  at  once  he  began  oflbriug 
up  per])etual  devotions  to  the  Immaculate  ]\[other  for 
the  accomplishment  of  his  yearning.  Indeed,  things 
seemed  to  work  that  way.  He  was  sent  south  and 
westward  to  Mackinac,  soiitli  and  westward  to  Green 
Bay — southward,  at  last,  to  the  Illinois.  Evtirywhere 
he  heard  more  and  [)lai/i  -r  tidings  of  the  great  riv('r, 
and  ho  redoubled  his  devotions.  Then  Mary  heard 
and  granted  his  prayers.  Joliet  arrived,  sent  by  the 
Count  de  Frontenac,  then  governor  of  Canada,  and 
bringing  with  him,  from  Marquette's  suixn-iors,  the 
long  wished-for  permission.  And  note  the  day  of  Jo- 
liet's  arrival :  it  is  the  8th  of  December,  the  Feast  of 
the  Immaculate  Conception  of  Mary ! 

The  heart  of  the  missionary  bxirncd  within  him,  for 
it  took  months  to  prepare  the  expedition ;  biit  at  last 
it  was  ready,  at  the  mission  of  St.  Ignatius,  the  cross 
of  which,  on  the  Isle  of  Mackinac,  was  seen  over  the 
wide  straits  and  from  the  two  inland  seas  of  Huron 
and  of  Michigan ;  and  in  the  middle  of  May,  the  month 
D  3 


50 


Di'.vo'rioN  Tf)  'vuv,  H.  V.  Maiiy 


of  IMnry,  IIm'V  piiHlicd  out  tlicir  l>aik  (•.•iiiocH  upon  tlio 
(1(>(>|)  ))|ii<>  liikc.     'rii*',v   took  nil   |i()Hsil)l(«  prccuulioMH, 


iiiii([(>  nil  ni'iidciil  |ii-('it;iriilii)nM 


piV|. 


Ixit 


lihovit    III 


Huys 


l^l!iiiiucll(\  "  1  pliu'cil  our  V(>_yii;;c  iiiitlci'  Hit'  pioh'clidU 
ol'  tlu*  I'Icsscd  Vii'f^iii  liiiniiicuhic,  iiml  )»rniMisr(|  Iicr 
tliut  if  she  o'lfiiiiictl  IIS  (he  ^imcc  ol"  (liscovciiii;^  llu! 
great  riser,  I  would  ;.;iv('  it  (he  iiaiiic  of  ('oiiciiplion,  hh 
I  would  do  to  lli((  lirst  iiiissiou  I  sliouUl  ustaWlisli 
nmon^'  lliosc  new  nalioiis."' 

Tlie  slorv  of  this  discovery  cannot  l>c  repeated  Iiere; 
it  in  the  coinmoii  properly  of  liisloi'ian  and  [j;eo^raplier. 
AVe  have  only  to  kIiow  (Iu^  voya;^«!  of  devotion  to  the 
]Mother  of  (iod,  and  what  advances  lli;i(  made  into  the 
wild  interior  of  North  America.  The  missionary,  starl- 
ing inward  from  tlu'  slmres  of  (ireen  Jiay,  had  peiie- 
trateil  west  and  south,  tlu'ou,i;h  many  adveiitureH,  leav- 
ing hert'  and  there  some  hint  of  the  (Jospel,  which  he 
hoped  one  day  to  preach  to  all  tliese  nalions,  and 
reaching  at  length  a  stream,  wide,  and  swift,  and  (h'ep, 
which  they  told  him  would  l)(>ar  him  to  the  gnnit  river. 
Bci'oro  end)arking  on  its  bosom,  they  began  a  ni>w  de- 
votion to  the  Ijlessed  Virgin  Inunaculate,  which  they 
practis(Hl  every  day,  and  "  by  esi)eciul  pra^'crs  wo 
phiced,"  ho  says,  "  under  hv.v  protootiou  tho  siiccess  of 

Thou,  for  a  hundred  and 


our  V 


oyi 


a 


ijjfo  ami  oiirselvos 


1\ 


'  ^ourtout  jc  mis  nostro  voyngo  Houbs  la  protection  do  la  Sto.  Viergo 
Iiuniacuirc,  luy  promrttaiit,  (|U(i  n\  olic;  nouH  f'uisoit  la  gract;  (U)  dt'cou- 
vrir  la  ^luiult'  riviiTo  jc  luy  (loiiuorols  \v  noin  do  laConcoptioii. — l{cdt 
des  Voyajj;i's  it  dis  Dcscmivortos  do  P.  Jacques  Marquotto,  cap.  ii. 

*  Recit  dos  N'oyaycs,  cap  iii. 


IN   NoilTII    A.MrjtFCA. 


51 


twoiity  milcH,  Micy  flout  down  llio  Wisconsin,  iliron«,'li 
tlii<  SlMt(^  of  tiiiit  ti.'uiir,  it)  its  nioiitli  and  Hk^  oitjcci  of 
(licir  wislics.  Tlicn  out  upon  tlio  lifoiid  Itrciist  oi  llio 
l'';itlMr  of  Wiitcrs,  and  down  its  slrciini  piisi  lowii, 
Ml  souri,  Illinois,  noting  every  olijeel,  llie  nidmo  of 
llie  li'ees,  tlie  viiryin,!^  widlli  of  wuier,  llie  jininnds,  «!S- 
|(('('i,'illy  llie  "wild  (!iil,tle,"  and  ilie  paiil  liers  whitili 
came  in  si^iit.' 

The  Illinois  se(!nj  io  liave  been  a  niild,  <li;j;niried,  and 
liospilaltle  rac(\  recciivinj^  l^[a^<|neU,(.)  in  tlnlr  villa;;es, 
sliowin*.^  liini  their  customs,  and  listenirif^  willi  ies|)(^(!t 
lo  the  n(!W  doctrines  wliich  he  iittere<l.  They  in<.^'ed 
him  lo  stay  with  them,  and  when  he  refii:;e(l  for  the 
tim(%  <^:\,vi)  him  provisiojis  for  his  journey  and  a  caln- 
luet  for  his  def(  nee.  'V\h'M  down  th(!  river  a;^^■lin  as  far 
as  the  mouth  o'  Iho  A)karisas.  Just  above  this  tli(!y 
had  li(  (Ml  attacked  by  a  ])arty  of  hostile  Indians,  ap- 
paronlly  not  natives  of  tlio  neii,dd)or]iood  -jjcrliaps 
Tuscaroras  or  Tnxpiois.  They  were  arnn^d  with  bows, 
arrows,  axes,  wiir-clid)S,  and  buckhu'S,  and  [in^pared  to 
attack  the  inissionai-y  l^otii  by  land  ami  wat<!r,  some 
(Mubarkin^f  in  cano(>s,  a  ])a)'t  to  as(;('nd,  otli(!is  to  de- 
scend the  river,  so  as  to  surnmnd  tlii'ir  pr(!y.  The 
(iurrent  drew  the  canoe  to  the  sliore,  and  tin;  young 
men  sprang  in  to  seize  it ;  but  not  getting  near  enough 
for  til  ,  they  returned  to  the  shore,  and  seizing  their 
bows  ujid  arrows,  preparcul  to  pierce  the  servant  of 
God.      Dt  atli   seemed  inevitable.      "  But,"   says   the 


'  Miirquotte  gives  the  name  of  pisikiou  to  the  American  bison 


52 


Dl'A'OTION   TO   TfIR   13.    V.    IMaUY 


fiiidiful  IMnnincHo,  "  \v<> 


li.'ul 


rccd'irsc  to  our  pMironcyH 


i».n«l  ;^iiitlt\  ilio  llolv  Vir};in  Imm!M'ulii.l(>.  mihI  wo  IiikI 
{'vcni  ii(M>(l  ol'  hoy  MssisiMiic<\  for  lli«^  H;tvjif;(>M  wnc  iir^- 
iiii:;  r.'U'li  ()llu>r  io  (lie  sl;ni,i;lil('r  by  lici-cc  iiiid  conliiuiMl 
crios."'  I*mI(1o(I  siKltlt'iilv  loiiclwtl  llit^  IicmiIs  of  lli(\ 
(»1(1  iiuMi,  llu>  yoiilli  wvvo  '.•lu'ckfd,  Mini  for  Unit  iimo  (.he 
inissioiiMvv  wiis  s|)Mr«'(l. 

'J'lu'V  li.'ul  now  r<>;ichi'(I  m  liind  \vlirr(>  lli«>  inliMhiituils 


lU^Vt'V     S('(>     snow,   MIK 


I    I. 


now 


(I 


\o  winuM"  only 


ly   by   11 


\{i 


i-Min  which  f.ills  oI'Iimum'  Ihiin  in  sniunicr;"  tiiiii  is,  iUoy 
woro  in  Arlv.ins.is.  And  now  I  ho  prolth'ni  of  lh(^  j_;n':it 
v'wcv  W'.vA  solvi>d  ;  Mild  lh(\y  knew  liow  IhMl,  coiiiin}^' 
from  Iho  cohl  ImUos  of  llio  nor! It,  it  wMlorcd  so  vmsI:  Mn 
oxIiMii  of  ooiinlrv,  to  oniply  mI  hist,  in  lh(>  (^nlf  of 
jNloxico.  I'or  they  hMil  hcMid  MlroMdy,  by  ihi)  N«^w 
York  niissioiiMrios,  how  bMiids  of  .vMiuhM'injj;  Inxjiioi.s 
luul  WMiTod  agMinst  iho  ()nton^M.iinhn,  avIio  HvcmI  on 
tho  banks  of  a.  beautiful  riv»>r  (Ohio)  whicii  loads  io 
llio  ^roat  lako,  as  tlu\y  callod  tlio  S(>ji,  wht>ro  ihoj 
tradi'd  witli  Muropoaiis  "  wlio  pray  to  (Jod  as  wo  do, 
ami  have  msarios.  and  bolls,  to  call  nuMi  to  praycn-s."'' 
Of  thoso  and  othov  sncli  acoounis,  IManjuotto  ^ain(>(l 
full  oonflnnatiou  from  iho  Arkansas  tribos ;  and  so, 
lia\'ing  navigatod  its  wat(>rs  for  a  distanoo  of  oiglit  do- 
groos,  and  })ublishod  the  Gospel  as  woll  as  ho  ci>ul(F  to 
the  nations  ho  had  mot,  and  h>arning  that  all  tho  tribos 
below  were  in  perpetual  -war  and  furnished  ^vitll  firo- 


'  KiH'it,  cnp.  viii. 

'  Slu>iis  Dis..'overy  nud  Exploration  of  the  Missiswippi,  prof.,  p.  xxiii, 

'  Recit,  cap.  ix. 


ftrniH,  h 
UKcorid 
lOnloi 
Knskasl 
was  oori 
tlioni.     ' 
caliins,  I 
of  two  II 
on  foot  < 
CJrooii  15; 
It  was 
iiiission-u 
ni>enl.tlio 
chi'onic;  (1 
l>roiiL;lit  11 
sought  or 
iiionlh  () 
"pon  tin 
liuid,  hi,- 
laiKio. 
do?    Eul 
and  foiuK 
there  lie 
feast,  of 
not  o/I'or 
that  dj'iii 
ex2)os(>d 
liis  food  I 
pan  ions. 
TJio  Ill« 


^.'laiiiMiiiWffl^'" 


IN  NoiiTii  Amkiihja. 


68 


anns,  Im  iurncd  lll(^  prow  of  IiIh  <uiiio(i  und  br.^'Jin  to 
nscciiil  Urn  iiv(M\ 

I'lnlcrin^'  llui  Illinois  I'iv<  r,  1mi  |)m,hh<!(1  a  lowti  of  ilio 
Kiisk.isluMS  ;  jmioIIht,  liif^dicr  ii|>,  of  llic-  I'coriiis,  and 
\vas  ('oiii|)(ill('(|  io  |)r()iiiiH(i  hotli  l-o  irliiiii  and  instinct 
tluMii.  'I'lii'cd  days  ho.  prdaclicd  tlm  faitli  in  nil  tiic^ir 
cabins,  liiiptizcul  a  dyin;^'  child,  nnd  so,  nl'lcr  a  vo_yii|i;() 
of  two  thonsand  seven  linndrcd  juid  sixl-y  seven  uiilcH, 
on  foot  or  in  bireli  canoes,  lie  reacdied  llie  mission  of 
(Jreeu  Uiiy. 


It 


was 


lierc,  under  tli<^  roof  dedicated  to  Ids  1)elov(^d 


mission-model,  St.  I'^rancis  Xa.vi<!r,  that  i\Iar(|ii(!tle 
s[)ent. the  summer  of  1(171,  lrvin<^'  to  recover  from  tho 
chronic  djReiit<'rj  which  his  labors  and  fatigues  had 
brought  ni)on  liiin  ;  and   it  was  \iv.vv.  that  tin;  eaj^erly 


in  tl 


10 


soiii^'ht  orders  I'oiind  him  to  ^'o  to  tlio  liiinois 
inontli  of  November  Im  set  ont,  and  was  well  enon<^h 
upon  th(i  ]ak() ;  but,  with  tlie  seven!  cold  upon  tlio 
land,  his  diseases  uttacktid  liim  Avith  rcMhiubhsd  vigi- 
lance. Still  lu)  puslied  on  ;  for  liad  ho  not  his  work  to 
do?  But  wh(ni  ho  roachod  the  banks  of  tho  Illinois, 
I  found  that  rivor  frozen,  ho  was  T)rostrat(!d.     And 


an( 


pr( 


there  lie  lay,  so  ill  that  oven  on  his  well-l(JV(3d  jiatronal 
fenst,  of  the  Innnaculato  Conc(^ption  (Dcsc.  8),  ho  could 
not  odi-'r  the  Holy  Sacrilicc;.  There  he  must  winter, 
that  dying  servant  of  jMary,  in  a  half-open  wigwam, 
exposed  to  tho  fierce  nortluirn  Idasts,  dependent  for 
his  food  upon  tho  guns  of  hi«  two  poor  French  com- 
panions. 
Tho  Illinois  heard  of  him,  but  only  send  to  him  for 


54 


Devotion  to  the  13.  V.  Mahy 


l>ow(lor  iiml  for  goods.  "  I  liavo  como,"  ho  answers, 
"  to  inslruct  you,  to  spoak  to  yon  of  prayiM-,  to  stoj) 
your  wars  with  tho  IMiainis,  aiid  to  spread  peace 
througliont  iho  laud.  Powder  liavo  I  none.'"  How 
nuu'h  does  ho  uinnuur?  "The  15U'ss(>d  Iniuiacndato 
Virgin" — llu^se  nvo  his  words  in  Jiis  hist  journal — "luis 
taken  such  euro  of  us  in  our  wanihM'ing,  that  we  liave 
never  wanted  food  ;  \\c  Ywo  (pu'te  com  fori  ably." '^  This 
is  the  "  llislorv  t)f  tho  Devotion  to  the  BIosscmI  Vir'iin 
Mar}'  in  North  Ain(uiea,"  this  spirit  in  Iter  s(>rvants. 
AVhat  worldly  nu)tive-power  is  going  to  r(\sist  or  over- 
come this?  See  ihat  lone,  fei^blo  missionary,  that 
child  of  an  an'iciue  race  of  sunny  Frances,  in  the  poor 
bark  hut  of  the  savage,  in  the  dead  of  the  northern 
winter,  lying  prostrate  there,  yet  ])erf(U-ming  the 
spiritual  erercises  of  St.  Ignatius,  contessing  and  com- 
numicating  his  two  comradc^s  twice  a  week,  fasting  on 
Fridays  and  Saturdays,  and  saying,  and  bcliciuiHj,  in 
his  deep,  saintly  humility,  that  he  "  lives  quite  com- 
fortably !"'  That,  we  say,  is  the  History  of  the  Doato- 
ti(m  to  Saint  Mary ;  stop  tJuit,  if  you  can,  by  a  sneer, 
a  tn^atise,  or  a  mob ! 

Meantime,  the  flesh  of  humanity  has  its  laws,  and 
under  these  the  missionary  is  doomed  to  death.     Far 


'  >rarqnotte'8  unfiuishod  journal-U'ttcr  to  Fatbor  Dablon,  suycvior 
of  thi!  missions,  Dooembor  20. 

''  J(Muiiul,  l)('Ci.'inbei'  .'lO. 

'  'J'hi-  laft  words  in  Ids  journal  aro  a  gcntlo  jost  at  the  fatiguca  of 
the  French  tnulors — ho  forgets  his  own :  "  Si  k's  Friim.ois  out  doj 
robboM  do  ce  pays  icy,  ils  no  les  desrobbent  paa,  tani  li's  I'aiigues  sont 
grands  pour  Ics  i;u  tircr."     April  (j. 


gnniuig 
sliall  S(!( 

yvt.    L( 

player,  I 
of  his  f;i 
she  do  K( 
hito  i\rot 
His  comj 
Hie  pr.'iye 
from  tjio  , 
On  the 
chd'um   o( 
f(rl,l,>,  to 
down  (Ik; 


IN  North  Amkhtca. 


65 


south  li(^s  tho  (losinHl  miKHion  ;  liovo,  wl  m-o  lio  is  lyiii};, 
stretch  tho  (h'soliito  siunvs  and  howls  tho  wild  Ixjic.'il 
•Nviiuh  I[(>  sinks  (hiily,  hourly ;  liis  comrjKhis  aro  Ik*- 
giiuiing  to  ('onsi(hM-  whoro,  boiKsath  tho  iVosis,  ilioy 
filiidl  Hcoop  out  his  Hohtary  {jjravo.  ]>ut  lie  says,  "Not 
yot.  Lot  nui  SCO  my  mission  first,  and  then  dio.  To 
prayor,  friiinds!"  N<n'(u-  liaa  that  (h'ar  Lady  Motlior 
of  his  faiU'd  liim  yot ;  nor,  such  is  his  (^onlichnco,  Avill 
she  do  so  now.  Tlioy  mako  n,  novona  to  tlio  Inimacu- 
lato  ^lothor  of  CJod,  to  INfaiy  conco'vcd  without  sin. 
His  coni])anions  liavo  hut  littlo  faitli-  ho,  mu(;h.  And 
tlic  prayer  of  nin(^  days  is  ])ast,  and  Marcpuitto  rises 
from  Ihi^  couch  of  death  recov(>red. 

On  tho  29th  of  March,  in  tho  Octave  of  tho  Annun- 
ciation of  tlio  JM(>ss('d  Virgin,  ho  is  ahU^,  still  xovy 
feeble,  to  start.  Tho  ice  is  broken  up  and  is  fh)ating 
down  tho  river.  On  the  8th  of  April  lio  roaches  the 
long-desired  village  of  tho  Xaskaskias.  ][oro  ho 
assembled  for  s(!V(vral  (hays  tho  anci(aits  of  the  tribe, 
then  visit(!d  the  st'iiarate  wigwams,  -a  hich  were  crowded 
to  hear  him.  Oji  Thursday,  in  Holy  Week,  he  spake 
to  all  in  ])ublic.  It  Avas  a  hirge  town,  five  hundred 
fires  burned  there  daily,  aral  his  audi(!nce  was  vast. 
His  church  was  a  prairii^  knoll.  On  four  sides  of  him 
were  planted  his  banners,  largo  pictures  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  attached  to  strips  of  India  tafTety.  Five  hun- 
dred chiefs  and  anci(.>nts  formed  the  first  circi(%  nearest 
to  the  Father  ;  fifteen  liundred  yoiing  warriors  gathered 
behind  them  ;  the  women  and  the  cLiidreu  formed  the 
outer  ring. 


M 


l>KV(vn()N  TO  rtiK  n.  V.  IMaiiy 


TlniM  111'   |>i(';u'Iit'(l    (o    llii>m    llii'    (loclriiii'   of  (Mni;il. 
i'ni.'illiMl  ,   llio  ( i.)'.|n'l   dl'  (iixI'm  Sou    nimli"    Mmiv'm  ^i■>n 


lor   lluMH.      Il«'   oIIckmI    lip 


II 


ll<     !l\\ 


I'm! 


.'Il'l  lll<'l<      o 


I'  II 


lo 


Miis.s  I'oi-  (lu'ir  (Mir.iMshMJ.      On  Mii.Mlt>r  Siiii(l!i>  li(>  rein- 
1>i-;Hi'il   lln<  sMino  (Irciiij    ni\s|('fi('M  !i!^;nii,   .'iiul   cl.'iiincil 


thill     l.lUil    ,'IS   !1    I' 


.i'.Mi    r<>r  lli<>    AI"sl    I  li;'li  ( !«t(l.  Mini 


!;;i\o 


111 


il    luission    llii>  njiiiK-  o 


r   I  lie    I  iuin.'it'iil.il(>  ( 'i)!i 


'|<t  i.Mi  (>r  SI.  IM.'irv 


Til 


.1    I 


Hill, ins   iiM'civcil    III':    ni( 


I    li 


lt"<<    WlHl 


,I"V 


Lis   niissu'ii    \\.is    S('('iir»M\ 


Ton  11 


llllil      Ins     work     WIIM 


<l(>nt\  ll(-  coiiM  iiol  l;ii>(>r  llnMi>,  ImiI  iiinsi  ;•,(>  iind  (M'I, 
othiM-  l'";illuMs  l(<  i.'|>l;ii'(>  lull!.  !''i>r  lliirlv  iiiilcM  on  liiii 
\\;iv  tlu'  nrw  I'oiivtM'ls  mHimkI  liiiii,  foiilt>:'.l  in;',  who  .shnll 
I'.in  V  soincthinr,  hrlon;',!!!;:  lo  liiin,     'riicn   ho  rcnchcM 


l,.'ik(^  Mi(hi.",;in,  |ioor  ,l;u't|n('M  niul    rr;iiu;ois  dcsp.'iin 
.•ilinosl  of   ;;('t|in:;'   him    t'lnihor;  lor  ht>   lie,'  h('l|t!t 


'Sh!    Ill 


their    :iriiu>    iNnv.   or    \\h(>ri>\<'r    llh'\    l;i_v    him    down 
!^<MltK\   but     l'i-('l'Ii>    MS    ;i    littlo    <'hild.      \\c   siiiilcs;    .Miid 


S|H\ll\S     SWiH 


I.   c'llm    mii'oiir:i''(Mn(Mil    lo    (Itcso   Iwo,   or 


lies  qiii(>t.  nuninnring  I'vom   tiiin^  lo  linm 


I  1 


viiow  ina 


Ih 


!nv 


Kod 


«\Mnor 


livi^ll 


I.     * 


•v  "^larv,  iiiolhrr  of  !;r!ic(>  and 


^lothi-r  i'>'(  (mhI.  V(MiitMnl)(M-  nu"  I"  Ilo  liirccls  rvmy 
Ihini;-  to  bo  propavod  for  his  death,  hh'ssiiif;  holy  walor 
for  liis  ngonv  and  burial,  insiriictin;;-  his  v'onip.'Uiions, 
iv;uliug  his  bv(>viavv  uulil  ilu^  (ilni  of  ajiproiu'hin^  dis- 


itl 


1011  <iatlitM's  on  Ills  (M  OS 


soUiti 

Ho  had  always  iMili-o.alod  his  dt\ac  l\rolluM-  iliai  ho 
luiiiht  dio  on  Satiivdav,  fli<>  dav  of  Iho  olliot^  of  i\w 
J'  iniiionlato  Conoo}itioii.  WoU,  Salurdny  liiul  ooiiio, 
Olid  ho  bado  tliom   pa  Idlo  io  tho  slioro  to  a  knoll,  at 


IN  ■Nnirrif  Amkiiioa. 


57 


(lie  f'liol.  of  wllicli  II.  lilll"  liver  I'lili  into  IJir  hike'  'I'IkW 
liiid  liiiii,  liko  SI.  l''iiiii('iM  Xiivicr,  ii|miii  l,lin  nliorn,  luui 
hI'I'i<I('Ii<'<I  Koiiir  liircli  Itjiik  ii|M)n  polcH  uliuvn  liirri. 
Tlinn  li(>  (S'lVn  llnlii    IIk^    hisl,  (liirclifMiH,  iJiniiKcd  ilicm 


.1    II 


)!•  IlK'ir   l(»V(\  Im'<';;';(<I    Ihrir   |i;ii(|((ii    lor   IIh'Iiok 


\,\i^  I 


lO 


liiitl  ;;iv<'ii,  Ik'jikI  llicir  coiilVMHiiiiiM,  luid  Liidc  IJirtri 
j.'iho  Hdiiid  npoMr.  Wlirii  lliiy  kIuiikmI,  lie,  liiuj  cn- 
Irrrd  llic  Valley  of  Mm  hIdmIovv  oI'  d'JiMi  ;  lull,  lie,  l,(dd 
(Hie  ol'  llieiii  lo  l.'iLr  his  criiciris  and  lioid  it,  ii|)  wlicro 
Ills  eyes  iiii;';lil.  itmI,  ii|i(iii  iL  lidoKiii;^  on  Ijiin,  lio 
iilliM'cd  liis  pidrcsiiioii  of  r.'iilli,  and  lliajiKcd  Uie  'rriiuio 
Majcsly  lor  llic  ;,;iac(i  ol"  d>  in;;  a,  niiHHJonury  ol"  .J<hiis, 
alone,  and  in  Mie  land  ■•''  KavM(^e.H.  Tlien,  now  and 
ni^.'lili,  IIk'.V  lieaiil  liilii  say,  SnsliitnJI  (iiiiuKi.  in  a  in, 
rcihii  <'/ii''<,  iiiid  Midcr  /)( !,  tiiciin  iiId  iihI.  'linn,  a,H  lio 
seemed  lo  \hs  pa.Hsiii;^  away,  lliey  (■.a.lied  aJond,  i.H  ho 
Iniil  lold  llieiii,  llie  naincM  of  JesiiH  and  of  IMiiry,  and 
at  Uie  sound  Ik^  raised  lijs  eyes  al)ov<!  tlie  (^nieilix  ;  in, 
saw  some  ohjecl  wliieli  Iliey  eoiild  liol,  see,  for  liis  <  yiM 
lillcul  wilii  llie  li,i;lil  of  inellaMc  joy  ;  a,  look  of  int'       est 


deliiflil,    iiia(l(^   liis    whole,    I'aci!    i'udiunL;   ho   eri' 


iUt, 


lesus  aiu 
Surely 


I  INI; 


■•'V 


iind 


fell 


(Sleep 


W(»   liM.V(!    no    iieet 


1    of 


AVor( 


Is  1 


o  (!Oin) 


n 


UH 


in.ui's  lifo  willi  dcvoUon  to  IIk;  Mother  of  (!•  .  or  of 
the  jiarf,  lie,  took  in  establishing'  it  in  AirKsric.  lj(;t  UH 
content  ourselves  with  citing  the  woids  of  one  of  h'm 
editors  and  bio^raplierH :"  "  Wu  could  say  niucli  of  his 


'  Tlio  river  luul  the  biiy  iuto  whicli  it  IuIIh,  in  Colton'H  Atlas,  are 
culled  Marquette. 
''  Jolm  a   Sliea ;  Discovery  and  Kxploralion  of  tho  MibsiMBi],■!'^  p.  04 


^8 


Demotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


rare  virtues,  of  his  missionary  zeal,  of  his  chiklh'ke 
candor,  of  his  angelic  purity,  and  his  continual  union 
with  God.  But  his  predominant  virtue  was  a  most 
rare  and  singular  d(^votion  to  the  Blessed  Virgir  and 
especially  in  the  mystery  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion. It  was  a  Y  nsure  to  hear  him  preach  or  speak 
on  this  subject.  Every  conversation  and  letter  of  his 
contained  something  about  the  Blessed  Virgin  Im- 
maculate, as  he  always  styled  her.  From  the  age  of 
nine,  he  fasted  every  Saturday,  and  from  his  most 
tender  youth  began  to  recite  daily  the  little  office  of 
tiie  Conception,  and  inspired  all  to  adopt  this  devotion. 
For  some  months  before  his  death,  he  daily  recited, 
with  his  two  men,  a  little  chaplet  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception  which  he  had  arranged  in  this  form  :  after 
the  Creed,  they  said  one  '  Our  Father,  and  Hail  Mary. ;' 
then,  four  times,  those  words  :  '  Hail,  daughter  of  God 
the  Father!  hail.  Mother  of  God  the  Son!  lirJl,  Spouse 
of  the  Holy  Ghost !  hail.  Temple  of  the  whole  Trinity ! 
By  thy  holy  virginity  and  immaculate  conception,  0 
most  pure  Virgin,  cleanse  my  flesh  and  my  heart.  lu 
the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  tlio  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost ;'  and,  last  of  all,  the  '  Glory  be  to  the 
Father,'  the  whole  thrice  repeated. 

"So  tender  a  devotion  to  tfie  Mother  of  God  de- 
served some  singular  grace,  and  she  accordingly 
granted  him  the  favor  he  had  always  asked — to  die 
upon  a  Saturday;  and  his  two  companions  had  no 
doubt  that  slie  appeared  to  him  at  the  hour  of  his 
death,  when,  after  pronouncing  the  names  of  Jesu»  and 


IN  North  Aimerica. 


69 


Mary,  he  suddenly  raised  his  eyes  above  the  crucifix, 
fixing  them  on  an  object  which  ho  regarded  with  such 
pleasure  and  joy  that  they  lit  up  his  countenance  ;  and 
they,  from  that  moment,  beheved  that  ho  had  surren- 
dered his  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  good  MotJier." 

His  bones  were  laid  in  the  Isle  of  Mackinac,  where 
they  were  taken  soon  after ;  his  name  is  invoked  by 
the  boatmen  when  the  lake  is  agitated  by  storms, 
and  the  Indians  call  him  the  "x\ngel  of  the  Ottawa 
Mission." 


GO 


DuvorioN  'MO  TiiK  1\.  V.  Maky 


CllAriKli  III. 

AllVANl'K    01'    Till      ni'\'l)T|.iN        I'lllHT    SkvIMV    MVK    YiOAIIH      .IkHIHTB    IN    *'a- 
NAPA       ('ill      I.MIY    OK    ANdll.S       OlIKU    ANIl     S'P.    Slil.niM'       'I'lllC    riTV    OK 

Makv     Maukmoihm.i.k  Manmk  and  tiik  IIohimtai,  SiHTicim. 


AVk  li!iv»>  sliowii  iiillicr  t'lillv  till'  H|)irii,  of  llioso 
wluHii  (uhI,  in  His  nici'cy  lo  Aincric.'i,  li;is  ciiMif^cd 
Milli  llu'  ilill'usioM  of  (Icvolioii  lo  IMary.  Nor  did  wo 
t'lu>osi>  iluMti  fioin  nnv  s|)cci;d  prt'liTi'iico  I'oi'  llicm 
rnlhcr  llwni  for  oIIums;  for  tlu>  Mospiltd  Sisl(Ms  of  Our 
liiulv  \\«>ri>  in  (^niiula.  before  ilu^  UrsuliiicM  iirrivcd, 
and  (luMH^  \v<'r»>  urnv-licMded  niissionarit^s  anion^  tlio 
Indians  lu'forc"  .laincs  l\lar(jiiolt(>  had  l(>ft  his  owu 
sunny  l"'raiu'(\  'I'hi'  spirit  A\hic]\,  in  (h«'  liisi  chaplrr, 
we  st>t  forih  as  necessary,  is  eoiivenimtly  excMiiplilied 
in  ^[ary  of  ih(>  Incarnation  and  th(>  holy  discovi>rer  t>f 
tht<  TMississij^pi ;  but  it  is  th*>  sanu^  in  all  the  servants. 
I^r<;t>d  by  thc^  love  of  souls,  tiu^  children  of  St.  I''rnncis, 
known  as  Kecollecis,  as  vi\v]y  as  the  year  lOJd,  follow 
the  i:ood  (']iann>lain.  Of  these  three  ])riests,  two 
throw  111  Muselves  at  once  into  the  dilVicult  stru<:;gle, 
against  sin  and  death,  among  the  nomadic  Algoncpiins 
of  the  Saguenaj,  the  Ottawa,  and  the  St.  Lawrence, 
while  the  other  pushes  forward  to  the  shores  of  Lake 
Huron,  among  the  uun-o  s»^ttled  Wvtindots  or  Hurons. 
Three  others  are  found  about  the  same  time  in  Maine  ; 
but  the  new,  young  orders  of  Jesuits  and  bulpiciaus, 


IN  Null  Til  Ami;iii(!a. 


61 


full  of  fn'uli  iinlor  iiiul  (Midi'fjfy,  rnu\<i  upon  ilio  (!( 1«1  jiikI 
cliiiiiMMl  its  iliUij^'i'iH  and  its  toiJH,  in  llic  iihiikih  of  .IrHiiH 
aiid  INIiivy. 

Tlio  v»';ir  l()'2r>  is  Uic  (nsf,  of'lli((  cHfiiMiHliirK'nl,  of  ilio 
.1(, suits,  iiitliouf^d'  i''<'.y  Ji'i'l  laboird  in  Nova  Scol,ia  and 
M.'iiiic  IVoiu  KIOH  |o  lli<>  ('oii(|U('Ht.  of  Acadia.  'I'luiri  Mm 
Put'  dr  VcnliMlour  ;,M;iiilcd  l.licni  ImikIk  ar<»und  (^u(il>r(% 
uiidvr  i\\v  iiil(>  of  111''  Sci^'iicurio  of  our  liudy  of  Ari(,'(dH. 
Tlicif  liisi  lioiiS(i  vv.'is  l)uill,  M,i  Si.  (Muuli  H.  TImmi  for 
llic  MisHion  of  S(.  .losc^ph,  near  (^u<(l»('(!,  Urulart  do  Sil- 
Icrv  fui'iiisluxs  foniid;ilioii.  Ho  dcHii'CH  to  CHiabliHli  a 
s])ot  \vli('r<>  lilt"  w^s'MdKTinj^  Havii;^'(^H  may  I).')  al,tra(!t(ul 
and  aHScmliUHl,  as  ihti  kui'i'mI,  notlts  of  ilioir  ct  nviirHion. 
lit'  hopes,  M»  the  di'cd  of  foundation,  tjiat  all  Iiis  f)lanH 
"will  liap|)ily  sutM'ccd  by  tlio  iiicritH  and  povvctrfid  ln^lp 
of  tlu^  imxst,  holy  Vir^^in,  Motlicr  of  (Jod  ;  and  vvislioH, 
bv  the  deed,  also  to  testify  tlit^  {^'ratiiudc!  vvhicdi  ho  f«;(!lH 
foi'  tho  wondrouH  favors  rcccivcMl  frojri  that  MotluT  of 
Mercy."  So  lui  dc^tVuMtcH  the*  foundation  "to  tho 
honor  and  {^lory  of  tho  Most  Holy  Ti'inity, — of  tho 
Father,  Avho  <rhoKe  tlu;  Virgin  to  givo  a  soeond  life  unto 
His  Son  ;  of  ilu!  Son,  who  aecejitcid  luir  as  His  Motli- 
eri  of  the  Holy  Hpiiit,  who  opciratcid  in  h(!r  tho  work 
of  the  iidoral)le,  ln(!arnatiou  •  and  in  honor  of  thatsaruo 
Virgin,  who  hath  ever  bcMin  Ininiueulate  and  without 
defect;  and  in  rnejuory  and  thardcHgiving  of  the  mira- 
cles of  holiness  wnnight  in  lua-,  and  in  gratitude  for 
the  graces  which  ho,  the  founder,  has  recei"ed  from 
God  by  her  intercession." 

So  there  he  established  a  residence  of  Jesuits,  on 


G2 


Devotion  to  tut.  B.  V.  Mauy 


condition  that  tlio  "  Fatlicrs  shnll  aay,  or  cause  to  be 
Hiiiil  tlioro,  forever,  a  Mass  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  on 
every  day  permitted  by  the  usage  of  the  Church  ;  and 
on  otlicr  days  the  Mass  shall  be  celebrated  with  the 
same  intention  of  honorin<if  the  Mother  of  God,  so  as 
to  thank  her  more  worthily,  and  to  invoke  her  more 
etHcaciously  by  this  foundation,  placing  her  Hon  Jesus 
Christ  anew  in  her  hands,  and  heartily  beseeching  her 
to  oiler  Him,  herself,  in  daily  sacrilice  to  God  for  the 
whole  Church,  and  in  exjjress  memory  of  that  admira- 
ble offering  which  the  same  Mother  made  of  her  Sod 
at  the  moment  of  the  Incarnation,  and  afterwards  i^. 
the  Temple,  to  satisfy  the  apparent  obligation  of  the 
law,  and  finally  at  the  Cross,  on  the  mountain  of  Cal- 
vary.'" 

Thus  foimded  at  Quebec,  the  members  of  the  Com- 
pany of  Jesus  radiated  throughout  all  New  France, 
carrying  the  light  and  warmth  of  salvation  to  every 
part  of  its  territory.  Checked  for  awhile  by  the  suc- 
cess of  the  British  arms,  it  was  only  to  commence 
again  with  renewed  fervor.  By  1G33  no  less  than  fif- 
teen priests  of  their  order  were  at  work  in  Canada, 
"  and  every  tradition  bears  testimony  to  their  Avorth. 
Away  from  the  amenities  of  life,  away  from  the  oppor- 
tunities of  vain-glory,  they  became  dead  to  the  world, 
and  possessed  their  souls  in  unutterable  peace.  The 
few  Avho  lived  to  grow  old,  though  bowed  by  the  toils 


*  Fondiition  faite  par  le  Commandeur  do  Sillery  pour  le  Residence 
de  St.  Joseph,  pres  de  Quebec,  from  Father  Bressani's  Relation  abre- 
gee,  redigee  par  R.  P.  Martin,  Montreal,  1853. 


IN  North  America. 


68 


of  a  long  mission,  still  kindlod  with  tho  forvor  of  apos- 
tolio  zeal.  Thu  history  of  thoir  labors  is  oonui'cted 
with  tho  origin  of  every  celebrated  town  in  tho  annals 
of  French  America ;  not  a  capo  was  turned,  nor  a  river 
entered,  but  a  Jesuit  led  the  way." ' 

They  followed  the  shores  of  the  lakes  to  tho  Bay  of 
Saguenay,  and  pierced  into  the  heart  of  the  I[uron  for- 
ests. ,  St.  Mary's  rose  upon  the  Niagara  lliver.  Tho 
Manpiis  do  Gamacho  gave  himself  to  the  Society,  and 
endowed  with  his  ample  fortune  tho  first  college  at 
Quebec.  From  104:1  to  IGll  the  remoter  Huron  mis- 
sionaries received  no  supplies ;  their  clothes  fell  to 
pieces;  they  had  scarce  bread  enough  for  the  Holy 
Mysteries ;  they  themselves  crushed  the  necessary 
wine  from  tho  wild  grape  that  sprang  in  the  woodlands. 
And  yet,  before  1G17,  forty-  l.vo  members  of  the  order 
had  visited  and  labored  in  these  lonely  wilds,  counting 
their  lives  as  nothing,  if  only  they  could  win  souls  for 
the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

Before  IGiJO,  thirteen  had  baptized  the  pagan  land 
with  their  blood.  Others  had  fallen  victims  to  starva- 
tion or  exposure. 

Father  Anno  de  None,  after  years  of  terrible  toil, 
died,  frozen  stifl'  and  cold  by  th3  wild  February  blasts, 
upon  tho  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  They  found  him 
kneeling  upright,  with  crucifix  clasped  to  his  breast, 
and  calm  eyes  open  and  fixed  on  heaven,  on  the  Feast 
of  the  Purification  of  her  whom  he  loved  and  servod  so 


'  Buucroft's  History  of  the  Unitod  States,  iii.  123. 


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64 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


well  (1G4G).  Charles  Garnier,  pierced  by  three  Iro- 
quois nnislvet-biills,  prepared  to  die,  when  he  saw  a 
Christian  Indian  expiring.  The  siglit  awakened  all 
the  priest  within  him  ;  he  staggered  to  his  feet  only  to 
fall  again,  lint  though  he  could  not  rise,  he  could  and 
did  drag  liiniself  along  the  blood-stained  grounii,  and, 
as  he  gave  the  last  absolution,  a  tomahawk  clove  his 
skull,  and  h(^  died  on  the  eve  of  the  Immaculate  Con- 
ception, which  gracicms  mystery  he  had  early  bound 
himself  by  a  vow  to  defend,  even  unto  death  (1G19). 

Anthony  Daniel  fell  at  the  Iroquois  sacking  of  St. 
Joseph's,  in  KVIS.  The  braves  were  all  absent  at  the 
chase.  There  were  none  at  home  but  the  old  priest, 
the  women,  and  the  children,  when  the  savages  burst 
through  the  palisades.  Swift  ho  rushes  to  the  wig- 
wams to  baptize  the  sick ;  a  crowd  of  others  demand 
that  Sacv.  uu'ut ;  he  has  no  time  for  even  shortest  cere- 
monies ;  he  dips  his  handkercliief  in  water,  and  bap- 
tizes thcju  by  aspersion.  Then  he  gave  general  abso- 
lution to  all  who  sought  it,  and,  entering  the  chapel, 
he  vested  and  stood  prepared  to  meet  his  death.  "  The 
Avigwams  are  set  on  fire  ;  the  Mohawks  approach  the 
chapel,  and  the  consecrated  envoy  serenely  advances 
to  meet  them.  Arjtonishment  seized  the  barbarians. 
At  length,  drawing  near,  they  discharged  at  him  a 
flight  of  arrows.  All  gashed  and  rent  by  wounds,  he 
still  continueel  to  speak  to  them  with  surprising  energy 
— new  inspiring  fear  of  the  Divine  anger,  and  again,  in 
gentle  tones,  breathing  the  aflfectionate  messages  of 
mercy  and  grace.     Such  were  his  actions  until  he  re- 


IN  North  America. 


65 


coivcJ  a  (lofttli-blow  from  a  halbevt.  Tho  victim  of  the 
heroism  of  clinrity  cliotl,  the  namo  of  Josus  on  his  lips. 
The  Avilderness  gave  him  a  grave ;  the  Huron  nation 
were  his  mourners."  *  It  was  in  tlie  Octavo  of  the  Visi- 
tation of  Mary  Mother  of  God. 

Noel  Chabanel  receives  his  death-blow  upon  the 
banks  of  a  stream  near  St.  Mary's,  from  the  axe  of  an 
apostate  Huron,  on  the  8th  of  December,  the  Feast  of 
the  Immaculate  Conception."  Rene  Goupil,  so  livid 
and  mashed  with  club  bruises  that  his  features  were 
undistinguishable,  liad  his  thumbs  cut  off  while  repeat- 
ing "  Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph."  Tied  to  the  ground  upon 
his  back,  at  night  the  savage  boys  poured  coals  upon 
his  breast  until  the  flesh  was  charred.  Six  days 
tormented  thus,  he  and  his  companion.  Father  Jogues, 
too  weak  to  escape,  wei'e  left  at  liberty.  But  one  day, 
^vhcn  they  had  retired  {)])art  to  pray,  two  young  men 
followed  and  ordered  them  back.  "  Dear  brother," 
said  the  Father,  "  let  us  recommend  ourselves  to  our 
Lord  and  to  our  good  Mother  the  Blessed  Virgin,  for 
these  men  have  some  evil  design."  They  walked  back, 
telling  the  beads  of  their  rosary.  They  had  said  four 
decades,  when  a  tomahawk  crashed  into  the  brain  of 
Rene,  and  he  died,  uttering  the  name  of  Jesus. " 

Bressani  (1G44),  captured  by  the  Iroquois,  marched 
chained  in  their  procession,  whei'eof  the  banner  was 
the  head  of  a  Huron  Catliolic,  whose  heart  he  saw  torn 


'  Bancroft's  History  of  tho  United  States,  vol.  iii.  139. 

*  Mario  do  I'lncarnation,  p.  148. 

'  Shea's  Narrativo  of  tho  Captivity  of  J(jgue8. 


G6 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


from  tlio  l)0(ly  to  bo  oatcni  in  bravado — marehctl  fear- 
lessly ill  that  (Iroail  procession,  for  "  I  was  lillod,"  hu 
says,  "  Avitli  eoufidonco  in  tlio  intercession  of  the  Holy 
Vir<»in."  Six;  days  th<^y  advanced  through  tlio  forest, 
lie  beiii;^'  ooinpelled  to  act  as  tluur  slave,  fetching  tlio 
wood  and  water  for  the  night  (;ncanipnu  ;its,  cooking 
for  his  savage  captors,  and  repaid  by  blows.  He  slept, 
tied  to  a  tree,  uncovered,  in  the  night  air  of  the  early 
northern  A[)ril.  Arrived  at  the  village,  tlu^y  prepared 
him  for  running  the  gauntlet,  by  splitting  his  hand  up 
between  the  ring  and  little  lingers,  and  then  beat  him 
as  h(>  moved  between  their  barbarous  lines.  They 
ft)reed  him  then  to  danco  and  sing  for  hours ;  they  ran 
splinters  into  his  ilesh,  and  burned  him  with  brands ; 
tlu^y  covered  sharp  points  with  hot  ashes,  and  com- 
pelled him  to  walk  thereon;  they  tore  out  all  tlio 
nails  of  Ids  lingers  with  pincers  or  with  savage  teeth. 
One  night  tlu>y  would  tear  out  a  nail,  the  next  cut  otF 
or  burn  oil'  a  joint;  and  all  this,  and  more  than  this, 
lasted  for  a  month.  His  wounds  swarmed  with  worms; 
ho  "  said  unto  rottenness.  Thou  art  my  father ;  inito 
worms,  Yc  are  my  mother  and  my  sisters." ' 

Finally  the  sentence  was  passed,  that  what  life  lin- 
gered in  him  it  should  be  burned  out  at  the  stake  ;  ai!'l 
then  he.  says :  "  I  2>repared  my  soul  and  comnumdecl 
myself  unto  tht  Mother  of  Mercy,  who  is  in  truth  tho 
Molher  most  amiable,  most  admirable,  most  powerful, 
most  cleiiunit,  and  tho  consoler  of  tho  afflicted.     She, 

'  Putii'diiii  d'w'i :  PiitiT  inous  as;  muter  mea  ct  Boror  mea  vermi- 
buB. — Job  xvii.  14. 


IN  NonTii  America. 


67 


after  God,  w.as  the  only  refugo  of  mo,  a  poor  sinner, 
jibiuulouod  by  all  creaturos  iu  a  strange  land." '  Then 
they  reverH(Ml  the  death  sentence.  "For  such,"  he 
says  again,  "  was  the  Avill  of  Ood  and  of  tlu!  Virgin 
Mother.  To  her  1  owe  not  my  life;  only,  ,l)ut  the 
strength  to  su])port  my  pain."  It  was  the  Hollaiuhirs 
of  New  York  who  saved  him  at  length,  purchasing  him 
from  the  barl)arians  for  some  forty  dollars,  and  he 
says:  "1  tiaiv^f  my  coininff  out  (>/' Djy pi.''  on  the  IDth  of 
August  in  the  Octave  of  the  Assumption  of  the  Yirgin. 
whom  I  consider  the  bestower  of  my  freedom." 

AVell,  this  at  least  was  enough  for  one  man  ;  he 
surely  l(^ft  his  mission.  On  the  contraiy,  tho  same 
year  saw  him  on  his  way  to  the  Hurons.  Four  times 
he  made  that  voyage,  and  thrice  he  fell  into  tho  same 
bloody  hands,  and  was  covered  anew  with  wounds,  yet 
God  and  Our  Ijady  delivered  him  out  of  all.  AVhat 
wonder  that  thos(^  mutilat(Hl  hands  can  record  among 
the  rever(}rs  of  Blesscul  ]\[ar3',  as  the  fruits  of  thii'tcen 
years,  lia^'-c  thousand  Indians! 

There  was  ycit  another  of  theses  Jesuits,  the  last  wo 
shall  Cii(!  here,  Avho  came  in  ir)25,  and  Avon  the  crimson 
crowu  of  martyrdom  in  1033.  When  he  came  to  the 
Hurons,  he  f(mnd  not  a  single  Christian ;  Avhen  he  left 
them  for  the  (jterual  glory,  they  nund)ered  eight  thou- 
sand. It  Avas  the  nobh;  Jean  do  Br(d)feuf — the  heroic, 
impassioiK^d  servant  of  Mary.     It  Avas  he  Avho  "  once 


BiTSRiini,  Relation,  pp.  116-1^9. 
"  In  exitu  Ismol  de  .^Egypto,  domus  Jacob  de   populo  barbaro 
Ps.  113. 


[ 

1 

68 

Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Marv 

> 

imparadisoil  in  a  trance,  beliokl  the  Mother  of  Him 
whose  cross  he  bore,  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  virgins, 
in  the  beatitudes  of  heaven."  * 

This  was  his  vow  :  "  What  shall  I  render  to  Thee,  0 
my  Lord  Jesus,  for  all  that  I  have  received  from  Thee? 
I  will  accept  Thy  chalice ;  I  will  call  upon  Thy  name. 
And  now  I  vow,  in  presence  of  Thine  Eternal  Father, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  presence  of  Thy  most  holy 
Mother  ;  before  tlie  angels,  the  apostles,  and  the  mar- 
tyvH,  my  sainted  fathers,  Ignatius  and  Francis  Xavier, 
that  if,  in  Thy  mercy.  Thou  shalt  ever  offer  unto  me, 
Thy  unworthy  servant,  the  grace  of  martyrdom,  I  will 
not  refuse  it.  So  that  if  any  occasion  to  die  for  Thee 
occur,  I  promise  not  to  shun  it  (unless  Thy  greater 
glory  so  demand),  and  even  to  receive  the  mortal  blow 
with  joy.  Now,  from  this  hour,  I  offer  unto  Thee,  with 
all  my  Avill,  O  Thou  my  Jesus,  my  body,  my  blood,  my 
soul,  so  that,  by  Thy  permission,  I  may  die  for  Thee 
who  hast  deigned  to  die  for  me.  So  let  me  live  that  I 
may  merit  such  a  death !  So,  Lord,  will  I  accept 
Thy  chalice  and  invoke  Thy  name,  O  Jesus,  Jesus, 
Jesus  !"^ 

St.  Louis,  St.  Mary's,  and  Conception  were  attacked 
by  a  thousand  Iroquois  in  the  winter  of  1649.  Among 
the  i^risoners  taken  was  John  de  Breboeuf,  who,  when 
he  saw  the  stake  destined  for  his  torture,  kissed  it 
with  respect.  So  earnestly  he  exhorted  his  compan- 
ions to  be  firm,  that  the  brutal  savages  cut  off  his  lips 


'  Biincroft's  IIi8l/)ry  of  the  United  States,  iii.  124, 
*  Relation  de  Bressani,  p.  200. 


IN  North  America. 


69 


and  toiij^ue.  Continuing  still  his  exhortation  by  signs, 
tliey  gave  hini  the  first  prolbrenco  in  the  torture. 
"  Tliou  wert  wont,"  they  said  to  him,  "  to  tell  others 
that  the  more  they  suflfered  here,  the  greatei  would  be 
their  recompense  in  the  new  lifo.  Now  thank  us,  for 
we  only  brighten  thy  crown."  Then,  having  made  a 
iiocklaco  of  red-hot  hatchet-heads,  tliey  hung  it  about 
his  ueyk.  In  mockery  of  baptism,  they  poured  boiling 
water  upon  his  head.  They  pierced  his  hands  and 
breast  with  red-hot  irons  ;  they  tore  his  tlesh  away  in 
strips ;  they  cut  his  scalp  into  the  semblance  of  a 
crown,  then  tore  it  from  his  head.  He  was  a  strong 
man,  using  to  say  of  himself,  "  I  am  only  an  ox  (fia'ii/'J, 
fit  for  labor;"  yet  he  died  in  three  hours — while  his 
comrade,  Gabriel  Lallemant,  young,  delicate,  and  frail, 
lived  seventeen.  Yet  his  first  torture  was,  to  be 
stripped,  enveloped  from  head  to  foot  in  bark,  sat\i- 
rated  with  rosin,  and  set  on  fire.' 

But  we  must  tarn  elsewhere  and  look  for  other 
"Marians,"  as  the  pagan  savages  called  them,  saying 
only  with  the  historian  of  the  missions  :'^  "  Fain  would 
we  pause  to  follow  each  in  his  labors,  liis  trials,  and 
his  toils ;  recount  their  dangers  from  the  lieathen 
Huron,  the  skulking  Iroquois,  the  frozen  river,  hunger, 
cold,  and  accident;  to  show  Garnier  wrestling  with 
the  floating  ice,  through  which  he  sunk,  on  an  errand 
of  mercy ;  Chabanel  struggling  on  for  years  in  a  mis- 


' 


'  Bancroft :  History  of  tho  United  States,  iii.  140. 
'  Shea:  History  of  Catholic  Missions,  p.  183. 


70 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


11 


m 


sion  from  which  every  fibre  of  his  frame  shrank  witli 
loathing ;  Chiuinionot  compihng  his  Indian  grammar 
on  th(i  frozen  earth  ;  or  the  lioroic  Brebo'uf,  paralyzed 
by  a  fall,  with  his  collar-bone  broken,  creeping  on  his 
hands  and  feet  along  the  frozen  road,  and  sleei)ing, 
unsheltered,  on  the  snow,  when  the  very  trees  wero 
splitting  with  cold." 

Bnt  we  must  turn  to  other  devout  children,  wliosc 
filial  love  has  taught  this  country  aflection  and  devo- 
tion to  the  Mother  of  Divine  Grace.  In  the  great 
world  of  Paris,  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  had  few 
clients  more  sincerely  devoted  to  her  than  the  secre- 
tary of  the  king,  Henry  the  Fourth — Jacques  Olier  do 
Verneuil,  the  trusted  minister  of  his  sovereign,  the 
frientl  of  Saint  Francis  of  Sales.  His  wife,  Mary 
Dobe,  Lady  of  Ivoi,  was  worthy  of  the  respect  which 
this  holy  bishop  bore  her,  of  her  husband,  and  of  her 
son.  To  them,  among  other  children,  God  gave  a  boy 
who,  from  his  earlier  years,  belonged  to  Mary — Jean 
Olier  de  Verneuil,  founder  of  Montreal.  Even  in  child- 
hood, whatever  recalled  the  holy  Virgin,  or  had  any 
reference  to  her,  caused  joy  or  gratitude  in  him.  He 
was  glad  to  have  been  born  of  a  mother  named  Mary, 
in  a  street  called  Our  Lady  of  Silver.' 

In  liis  studies,  he  counted  more  upon  the  assistance 
of  the  Throne  of  "Wisdom  (Scda  Sapientia'J  than  on 
his  own  abilities,  though   these  were   naturally  very 

>  N'otrc-dnme-d' Argent — a  name  given  to  the  street  called  Eoi  de 
Sidle,  because  of  a  silver  statue  jjlaced  at  its  corner  by  Francis  I.,  in 
expiation  of  some  sacrilege  committed  there. 


IN  NoiiTn  America. 


7i 


great.  Ho  says  himself  tliat  he  could  learn  nothing 
without  "  Hail,  IMary !"  and  others  have  recordcul  that 
the  devotion  with  which  he  used  to  repeat  this  an,^elio 
prayer  moved  them  to  tears.  Ho  undertook  nothing, 
indeed,  without  fii'st  j^oing  to  that  dear  Lady  and  ask- 
ing her  to  command  him  to  do  it,  as  a  mother  her  son. 
"When  clad  ancAV,  when  the  new  hat  or  coat  Avas  given 
jiim,  he  never  felt  at  ease  until  ho  had  gone  to  dedi- 
cate them,  and  himself  in  them,  to  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
and  to  implore  her  for  the  grace,  never,  so  long  as 
ho  should  Avear  them,  to  oirend  her  Son.  "  I  have 
thought,"  ho  said,  in  later  life,  "  sometimes,  that  this 
practice  might  he  a  feoLleness  or  a  folly.  But,  Avhen  I 
omitted  it,  my  clothes  Avero  sure  to  come  to  speedy 
ruin  the  first  day  or  the  next.  So  I  took  these  acci- 
dents as  a  visible  punishment,  sent  to  correct  my  fault, 
or  to  Avarn  me  not  to  fall  into  it  again."' 

GroAvn  up,  he  entered  the  gay  Avorld  at  Paris,  as  his 
birth  and  rank  seemed  for  the  time  to  require  of  him  ; 
and  CA'cn  there  his  patroness  preserved  him  from  its 
evil.  Ho  conceived  an  ambition  to  be  profoundly 
learned,  and  set  out  to  Rome  to  gratify  it.  But  an 
affection  of  the  eyes  threatened  him  Avith  total  loss  of 
sight ;  so,  instead  of  staying  at  Borne  to  study,  ho 
Avont  to  Loretto  to  i^ray  ;  and  there  Saint  Mary  healed 
liim,  and  showed  him  also  that  he  Avas  to  be  her  faith- 
ful and  devoted  servant.  In  1033,  accordingly,  he  re- 
ceived tlio   holy  order  of  the  priesthood,  and,  aftei 


'  Vie  do  M.  Olior.     Paris,  184 1,  p  5. 


72 


Devo'iion  to  Till':  13.  V.  Mary 


throo  mouths'  H})irituiil  retreat,  snid  his  firHt  Muhh  in 
tlio  clnueh  of  our  Ludy  of  Mouut  Carnu!!.  To  luu-  liis 
devotiou  iucroiiHiHl  daily.  Couviuecd  that  to  hor,  after 
God,  hv  owed  all  t\n)  ^rat't^s  ho  had  rceeivod,  ho  choso 
hor  for  his  nuj.!;ust  Lady  and  Quoou;  ho  h(>ld  all  liis 
possessi(Uis  as  a  ^rnni  innn  hor ;  usod  tlu^m  ouly  hi 
her  namo ;  uuulo  a  vow  of  porpotual  sorvitudo  to  licr; 
aud,  with  tho  authjuo  synd)olism  of  his  day,  wore 
rouud  his  nook  a  silver  chain  to  show  that  ho  was 
boiuliuau  to  tho  Quoou  of  Hoavon.  Froui  tluit  day  ho 
never  refuscnl,  when  in  his  power,  to  give  wliatever  was 
demanded  hi  tho  namo  of  Mary. 

Ho  made  uo  journey  without  first  going  to  tho 
church  of  Notre  Dame  to  ask  his  IJlessod  Mother's 
benediction.  When  struck  with  apoplexy,  his  rea.^on 
shaken,  his  sight  and  hearing  gone,  only  two  sounds 
seemed  to  reach  his  sense — the  names  of  Jesus  and  of 
Mary.  At  the  first,  a  bright  smile  gave  intelligence  to 
his  half-dead  face ;  at  tho  second,  his  paralyzed  lips 
murmured  "Mother."  When  the  idea  of  the  grand 
Seminary  of  St.  Sulpico  was  in  his  mind,  he  wont  as 
usual  to  Notre  Dame,  and  there  our  Lady  showed  him 
visibly  the  plan  for  the  proposed  edifice.  Then  he 
commenced  that  sacred  work,  and  the  corner-stone 
was  laid  in  the  Octavo  of  the  Virgin's  nativity.  Tho 
works  went  on  until  the  winter  interrupted  them. 
They  ceased  on  the  Immaculate  Conception ;  they 
were  recommenced  in  the  Octave  of  the  Purification. 

He  sang  the  Mass  de  Jkata,  \\'ith  tho  keys  in  his 
bosom,  offering  them  to  Our  Lady  as  the  owner  of  the 


IN  NOUTTI   AmEUIOA. 


78 


,.4 


lionso.  "For  horoin,"  ho  says,  "I  trust  tlint  tho  lioly 
niiirio  of  Miuy  will  \w  })1('HH(u1  forovor.  All  my  doslro 
is  to  itnprint  it  dooply  on  tlio  hearts  of  our  brethren ; 
foi'  Mary  is  our  (lounsejlor  and  pr(>si(lont,  our  tvoitsurer, 
our  i)rincoss,  our  queen,  and  our  all."  In  tho  court, 
faeinfj;  tho  portal,  ho  placed  a  grand  statue  of  tho 
Virgin,  seated,  and  holding  tho  infant  Jesus  in  her 
arms.  He  refused  to  bo  called  tho  founih'r  of  tho 
house.  "  Finuhivif  cam  ytlflsshniis,"  ho  said;  "it  ia 
Jesus  in  Mary  who  is  our  founder ;"  and  ho  caused  tho 
monofi;ram  of  Mary  to  bo  engraved  on  tho  silver, 
wrought  in  tho  iron-work,  marked  upon  the  linen,  for 
the  house  was  hers. 

Olier  furnishes  tho  idea,  and  Lo  Brun  paints  the 
coiling.  It  is  tho  coronaticm  of  Mary  Queen  of  Heaven 
by  tho  hands  of  tho  Father  Eternal ;  while  below,  the 
Church  militant,  repr(>sented  bj'  tho  Council  of  Ephe- 
sus,  hail  her  with  cries  of  exultation,  and  proclaim  her 
title,  (le  JUIc,  of  Mother  of  God.'  Two  other  pictures 
from  the  same  hand  adorned  the  chapel — Mary,  the 
channel  of  God's  grace,  and  tho  Visitation.  In  that 
house  tho  first  devotion  was  to  the  interior  life  of 
Jesus ;  the  second  was  to  Mary.  And  all  this  love  and 
devotion  to  the  (Jueen  of  Saints  was,  by  Father  Oiler's 
moans,  sent  to  consecrate  the  swift  waters  and  im- 
memorial forest-lands  of  North  America.  Before  treat- 
ing this  point,  Ave  cannot  leave  the  holy  founder  of  St. 
Sulpico  without  mentioning  his  death.     His  last  years 


•  Vie  do  M.  OUer,  p.  281. 
4 


I 


74 


pKvorioN  'I'o  TiiK  r..  V.  IMaiiv 


1"^ 

X. 


WVVv  linllt'd  t(>  (lie  l^l^'.sill||  of  liis  In  lovid  Loi'il  by  a 
<'()lll|iIif;itioli  of  (lisiHilrrs,  i'S|>(i'i;i|l y  llu-  ji;,',(iiii/iti;; 
i>l\(<  t)|'  };i'.'i\r|.  ill  ils  iii'iili'sl  iill.'icLs,  win  ii  ||h>  hoiiI 
Wits  iiliiKisI  (liisi'ii  (Mil  of  liiiii  liy  |)livsii';il  ;iii;.';iiisli,  hit 
llllt'i't'd    no   coiiiiilMiiils,    ImiI.    \'.iy   Nlill,    ;',<'iillv    siiijlin;', 


)I1 


ollcnii;^    his    |i:iiii 


lo    ,\ 


( ,siiH  criicilu'd,  uiKl    iiiiii  iiiiinii'r. 


()  Lo\.'!  ()  Lo\.!" 

Ill'  icihli  red  ii|i  jiis  soul  iiilo  ijir  IiiukIm  of  Cjiiisl, 
Mill  Ills  tjcar  IMollicr  on  llolj  Saliii'tlaj',  iMiiii'li  liO, 
J(m7. 

It  \v;is  ill  l(ill('»  ili.'il  (lie  ('oiiipiiiiv  of  IMoiilrciil  u.is 
fnilliilfd  "for  llii"  I'onvt'ii.ioii  of  llic  s;iV!i!;rs  uiiij  (Im 
iiiaiiilciiMiicc  of  Ili(>  Ciitlioiii'  rcli;^i(»ii  in  C'liiiiih." 
I'^ivc  luicsls,  it  c'liiliiia!  ( lliflu'licil),  ii  iliirlii'ss,  Iwo 
.lill^(-s,  turl\i'  ollirr  nolilrs,  iiliil  a,  silii|»l('  Sisirr  of 
Ciiaritv,  foinu'il  the  association;  niiil,  for  four  jcais, 
tlu'V  lalioiiil  faillifiillv  ti»  In  iiij;;  llirir  scIiciik^  iiiio  siu-- 
i't\ssful  oiK'iatioii.  Tlicir  |)Iaii  was  lliis :  To  IniiM, 
upon  (III'  I.-K'  of  Moiilii  al,  a  town  wliii-li  slioiild  Iti;  at 
oiu'o  u  liouu'  for  Ilic  Ulis^uons,  a  dtdViifc  a;';aiiist  llio 
savii}j;('s,  a  ct'iilrc  of  coiinnrrcc  for  tju*  iiri;^Iil)oriii'j; 
])(M)j)li',  wliicli  should  lit'  consccralcd  lo  Ihr  most  holy 
Virgin,  and  be  called  Villc-Marit'. 

So,  ulu'ii  all  was  ready,  on  I  he  morrow  of  tlio  FeiiHt 
of  Our  Lady's  rurii'u'alion,  ihe  associates  assembled  in 
the  cathedral  church  of  Motic  Dame.  M.  Olier  ollenul 
up  the  ])erfect  Sacrilico  at  the  Virj^in's  altar,  whereat 
all  the  laics  ooiiumuied,  while  those  of  the  Company 


Avlio  were  i)ru' 


^sls  said  Mass  at  other  altars  with  the 


pri 
Bumo   iutoutioii,    '*  fervently   imploring   tho    (Juocii  of 


■UWI 


IN  Noirrii  AMi:iiif!A. 


75 


Ah;.^<>Im  Io  lilf'HH  llicir  «'nl<'r|)iiMr,  ntid  (o  l;il(c  <ln'  IhIo 
«)f  !\I(trilr<';il   iiii(l<'r  licr   ln)ly  mid    riii».sl,  r,s|H  liiil   pro- 

I'cllDll. 

'riic  <-(illc('iiuli  liflri'  lliin  ciiciiiniiy  WIIM  Iwo  lilMi<lr<»| 
Ili()iis;iii(l  ri'MiicM.  Tim  coiMtii.-iitiliiiii.  wiim  I'iiiiI  <|h 
(!IiiuiiiH(|;ty,  l(»r(|  ol'  Mfiisoniiciivc,  a  \v;iriior  who,  Uiv 
hvciily  yfiirs,  Imd  sci'vrd  his  kin;';  uilh  honor,  i\\(\ 
]5l('SK('d  Vii';',in  wilh  drvolioii,  hiivin;,'  iiiinh!  Tor  her 
Hiikr  u  vow  of  |K  r|irlii;il  ch.'isllly,  never  oniillin;.',  for 
uiiv  <'\«'iisi',  Ihc  re<"iliilioii  of  lh(^  chiiph'f,,  iind  lh<^  lilUo 
(ilTicc.  Under  hiiM,  Ihen,  iliey  Hiiirl,  )i,(,  ieii;r|h  from 
llochelle,  cross  Siifely,  winter  mI  (^ueltec,  iirid,  «»n  lh<> 
I7II1  of  IM.iry's  own  inoidh  of  IMiij,  firrive  id  Motdreiil. 
Tliey  liiiild  u  chiipel  of  Icirh,  erect  iin  iiiljir,  ;ind  ofTer 
forlhiMlrst  lime  Ihe,  SMcrilico  of  Iho  INTass.  Oti  that 
(I;iy  lin'y  reserved  Ihe  Hlessed  SaerMineni,  find  /Vom 
llmt  (1(11/  it  has  idways  Iteen  reserved  in  ViMe-I\rari<!. 
"  ir(!neeforlh,"  Hfiys  ihe  Amei'iciin  historian,  "Ihcj 
lirurth  of  the  K.icred  (ii(!S  of  the  AVyaiidots  was  (;on- 
socratcd  to  th(»  Yifj^Mn."" 

Th(!  colony  does  well,  ojdy  it  shordd  not  depend  on- 
lirely  upon  I^'rancre  for  cleri^'y.  Tho  liospit.'il  sistcir.s 
have  settlcMl  Ikm'c!  ;  tin)  (!on_L;re;^'ation  of  Our  I^ady  \h 
cstal)lish(!(l  ((Xpressly  for  the  places ;  tlioro  must  bo  a 
s(!iiiinary.  Tin!  same  devotion  which  built  St.  Sulpico 
for  IMary  in  Paris,  builds  tho  n(!W  St.  Suli)ico  tliroo 
tliousaud   miles   away  in   the   colony  that  bears   her 


'  Vlo  ill!  Sfctir  Marguorito  Bourgooys.  Villc-Muriu,  1818,  p.  21. 
'  Bancroft,  iii.  128. 


70 


1)k.v«)th)n  '!'«)  'nil';  H.  V.  Mauy 


ji!nM(\  'Vho  moihcr  liou.st^  fiiniiHli)<s  |)i'i(>Hl.s  TNIrsHrs. 
«l«^  (^)ii;ivliis,  »I(<  (^)illiiit>|.,  Diillfl,  and  liounri,  to  \u'<^]\\ 
Avilli.  ill  l()(i.'{,  (li(>  {\)inj»!iiiy,  wlioHO  only  (thjcci,  was 
\\w  I'onvtM'sion  <»f  llio  sav!i>;t's,  resigns,  inio  llio  Ininds 
of  'ln>  Snlpiriiins,  nil  sci^ncnrijil  ri^Iils  ov(>r  tlio  island, 
{i|](>s  conlirnit'd,  a  i-tMiinrv  lalcr,  by  {\\o  I'liliHli  ffovnni- 
miMil.  MfliM-  llit>  contiucsl  of  Canada..  And  Mmim  it  is 
that  iUo  p.K'ssi'il  ViiY;in  Alary  is  ,>ldl  llio  sovorci^n  lady 
of  lMonir*>al. 

Tluvso  Snlpicians  also  liavo  Hhmv  crinison  r(MM)rds 
tlu^ir  d»\dinj;s  with  tin*  Wcn-o  and  wily  Inxiuois.  Two 
only,  for  tlu>  pn^sonl,  will  w<>  ni»>nlion.  Whi>u  !M.  Olicr 
first  jM'opost'd  this  mission  to  Ids  (^cclcsiaslics,  jdl 
oai^iMly  olVtM'tHl  tluMns(>lv(>s  :  nonc^  wcro  moro  ;',t>alons 
than  Falhcr  liO  INI  ail  iv.  "  S.muI  nit>,"  ho  said  ;  "  I  will 
pronustM\'UMu>sl  lalxn- ;  T  willj^'o  to  Iho  Indians,  oven 
in  thoir  tnvn  ronnhy."  "  Vou  uill  not  havo  tlid 
trouMi\"'  answonnl  tho  s»n\aid.  of  (u)d ;  "Ihcy  will 
conio  to  look  for  yon,  an»l  will  so  snrronnd  you  that 
you  shall  not  osoapo  from  tluMr  hands."  Two  y(>ars 
nftor  tho  doath  of  I\I.  Olior,  Father  Lo  INFaitro,  tlu>n  in 
Canada,  was  surrounded  and  Indieadod  by  tho  Iro- 
quois, on  tho  Foast  of  tho  Docollalion  of  Saint  John 
tho  Baptist.  Father  yip;nal  followed  him  to  lioavcn 
by  the  same  painful  path. 

On  tho  scant  records  that  we  have  boon  ablo  to 
procure,  we  read  tho  nanu^s  of  twonty-livo  stuninary 
priests  in  less  than  forty  years — Salajj;nac  do  Fouelou, 
on  the  north  Ontario  shores ;  among  tlio  Irocpiois, 
de  Belmont  in  the  Indian  school  of  the   Mountain; 


IN  Ndirrii  AwKiticA. 


77 


J^iiHsoii  do  Hi.  (loiiu'',  ^<>'\u^  fur  Hoiiili  lo  \]w  NiiU^lmz. 
'Plic  cliiltln'ii  of  Ij-jriiiMiis  immI  Xiivicr  wi^in  lli<!  lulvcsii- 
tiiriirs  mimI  pioiiccrM ;  for  (liciii  (^nrlli  luul  no  r<tKl,iri^- 
|)I)H'(>,  (IdiMi  no  tcnoiK  ;  Mwir  linm  of  l.'il)ot'  iind  il.H 
lit'M  weld  wliilc*  and  \vli('r<iv('r  llicir  li|»M  rcdild  |icorl)i,itri 
jlic  niinio  of  .IcsnH;  ilicir  rcHl,  wms  only  ///  I'nhiti.  Tlio 
(U'clt'si.Mslic^M  of  .Ir;iii-J,'ic<|ii(H  ()li(!r  wens  a  Hriilcd 
«!(»lon_v  to  (idiiciild,  ('.iyili/n,  Iniin,  luid  keep  IIm!  con- 
vci'lcd.  Tlio  .)(^Miiil.  fnrnislir.d  l]u<,  <;l(;nirnl  of  (;on,|ii(;Mi  ; 
llio  Siil|)ic.iiin  tliiit  of  (!ons('rv;iliHni. 

Sido  l»y  Hid(*  with  tlio  .IcHuit  of  (.l\U'.\)(\r,  Itdiorcd  llio 
piiticnt  hospital  sistorH,  foiindod  l»y  tho  bounty  of  iho 
])ii('h(^ss  d'Aif^Miillon,  iind  th(!  llrsidintis  of  ^Miiry  of  iho 
Iii(\'irniitioM.  So,  jii  Villo-IM:iii(!,  wo  Inivo  oihcsr  hoH- 
piiuHoi'cs,  <Midow(!d  hy  ;uiothor  piouH  and  iiol)h'.  I.'uly, 
tho  DiirhoHS  do  IJulIion,  iind  sisior  M!ir;^ii<!iit(}  Jiour- 
gooys,  iiiid  hor  "  (/ongro;^iition  of  Our  Ijudy." 

It  is  most  ini(M'oslin<^  to  tnuH)  tlio  iiiiiniKir  in  whioh 
Mary  (tails  and  inspii(^s  hor  K(!rvants,  so  variotis,  yot  so 
oiiiHitivo  aro  tho  inoaiis  slio  uscis.  Oiio  has  simply  a 
restless  fiuilinj^,  soarchos  roposo  cv(!rywhoro,  and  linds 
it  suddenly  at  tho  iirst  purpose  of  solf-couseoration  to 
Mary.  Auothor  is  uminonod  iu  a  moment,  when 
tluukiii}^  of  iiothin<^  ^iss  thau  of  the  ]ih;sscd  Virgin, 
by  a  voice,  or  an  ap't.^iition,  or  an  aocidtnt,  as  Father 
Louart,  tho  second  i:)riest  of  Montreal,  could  have 
testified.  Ho  was  destined  for  tho  world  ;  he  was  on 
the  point  of  marrying,  when  on  tho  Feast  of  tho  As- 
sumption of  Our  Lady,  ho  strayed  by  chance  into  a 
church  in  Paris.     Tho  preacher  was  not  well  prepared 


78 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  IMary 


— (lid  not  got  along  -svoll  on  the  snl)joct  of  the  day,  and 
went  Avandc'iing  about  in  his  discourse  until  he  found 
a  njore  faniiUiir  topic.  This  happened  to  be,  the  ne- 
cessity of  btung  sure  of  your  vocati(jn  before  entering 
upon  any  state  of  life.  Whether  he  dealt  more  hap- 
pily ^vith  tliis  subj<^ct  than  with  the  one  he  had  loft  for 
it,  we  are  not  informed ;  but  he  set  the  mind  of  the 
young  Louart  at  work ;  the  vocation  for  matrimony 
was  found  not  to  exist,  and  a  few  years  after  saw  the 
Jiance  cure  in  Vilk;-Mtiiie.  Diffcrtuit  illustrations  are 
found  in  the  eases  of  tlie  two  holy  women  who  came 
first  to  the  \\ild  inland  in  the  St.  La^\rence,  tluu'e  to 
represent  the  tender  pity  and  care  of  Mary  Pnidai- 
tifisnna,  Mary  Sahis  Iiijirmon'iii. 

A  3'oung  laily  of  Langres,  Mademoiselle  Joanne 
Manse,  passing  hor  life  quietly  among  her  friends  in 
tlie  ordinary  routine  of  a  pious  girl's  life,  is  suddenly 
struck  witli  tht;  idea  of  consecrating  herself  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Blessed  Mary  in  New  Franco.  "What  N(nv 
France!  is  she  has  no  idea,  or,  at  least,  a  very  confused 
and  indistinct  one.  It  is  a  notion  from  some  travel- 
ler's storv,  thiidc  her  friends.  Her  confessor  is  con- 
suited  ;  he  has  never  hoard  of  Montreal,  and  he  treats 
his  penitent  as  a  visionary  ;  l)ut,  as  she  persists  in  her 
notions,  he  writes  to  Paris  for  information.  The  an- 
swers confirm  the  purpose  of  Mademoiscille  Manse ; 
she  goes  to  Paris,  is  introduced  to  the  Duchess  do 
Bullion,  a  groat  friend  of  the  Montreal  schenie  ;  the 
vocation  is  tried,  ascertained,  and  followcnl.  "  I  will 
go,"   she   said,  "give   mo,  madamo,  a  letter   to   tho 


11 


IN  North  America. 


79 


I 


directors  of  tho  Compiiny."  Tlio  pious  dnclicss  gives 
her  a  note  to  M.  de  la  Daiivcrsiero,  and  a  purse  ot' 
tivcnty  tJioti.sand  livres  for  expenses.  She  av.'is  warned 
that,  in  all  probaljility,  the  walls  of  Montreal  must  be 
cemented  in  blood  ;  that  there  were  tribes  of  hostile 
savages  Avho  would  oppose,  perhaps  destroy,  the 
colony;  that  slie  Avould  bo  alone  to  care  for  the  sick 
and  wounded :  but  when  these  representations  only 
increased  hw  zeal  aT.d  fervor,  the  good  man  blessed 
God,  and  bade  her  go  in  His  name.  And  whin  he  did 
that,  lie  laid  the  foundation  of  that  Hotel  of  God 
(Hold  Dii'ii),  or  Hospit;d  St.  Joseph,  where  noAV  some 
forty  nuns  and  iil'leen  novices  are  consecrated  to  the 
service  of  Christ  in  His  poor. 

They  a. rived  in  tlu)  middle  of  tho  month  of  Mary; 
the  haul  was  assigned  ;  the  gold  of  the  good  duchess 
was  exchanged  for  wood  and  labor;  a  house  and 
chapel  rose  up  swifll}',  and,  on  the  loih  of  August, 
IGI'2,  it  was  o[)eu(!d  to  coL'brate  the  Feast  of  tho  xVs- 
suniption  of  St.  Mary  the  Virgin.  As  the  colonj'  grew, 
tho  numbi^r  of  its  sick  augmented  also  ;  tin;  house  was 
found  too  small,  the  labor  too  great  for  an}-  one  per- 
son, however  zealous.  A  new  gift  of  sixty  tliousand 
livres,  l)y  Madame  do  Bullion,  eidarged  the  edifice, 
and  recruits  from  France  brought  help  to  Mademoi- 
selle Manse.  It  was  de  Maisonueuve,  the  command- 
aiit  of  Tille-Marie,  and  tlie  sworn  servant  of  its 
Patroness,  who  W(>nt  lO  look  for  hospit;ili*'r(>s.  Ho 
found  eager  candidates  for  the  mission  lunong  the 
Bisters  of  St.  Joseph,  in  la  Fleche,  from  whom  threo 


"I 


:!i 


80 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maky 


were  scilcctod  and  sent  to  found  their  order'  in  Amer- 
ica. And  now,  what  more  have  we  to  say  of  this 
lady  ?  Her  arm,  broken  by  a  fall,  and  badly  treated, 
becime  hopelessly  paralyzed.  She  was  patient,  biit 
she  was  a  burden  to  others ;  so  she  resolved  to  seek 
relief  from  God  through  her  holy  and  gentle  Mother 
Mary.  Every  one  in  Montreal  had,  of  course,  great 
veneration  for  M.  Olier ;  so,  full  of  devotion  and  simple 
faith,  she  made  a  journey  to  France,  and,  at  his  tomb, 
she  p)'ayed  for  such  a  restoration  only  as  might  enable 
her  to  aid  herself,  that  she  might  be  no  longer  a  bur- 
den to  others ;  and  her  arm  was  made  whole."  She 
returned  to  her  labors,  and  died  in  1G73.  There  is  r  o 
more  to  tell.  Hospital  sisters  have  no  stories.  Their 
whole  lives  are  beautiful  praises  to  the  gracious  God, 
and  are  written  only  in  His  Book  of  Life  on  high. 


'  Tlioy  wore  still  seculars.    Pojie  Alexander  the  Seventh  erected 
them  into  a  religious  order  in  IGOO. 
»  Vie  de  M.  Oiler,  p.  394. 


IN  North  America. 


81 


CHAPTER  rV. 


Mabouebite  Bourqeoys  and  the  Conoueoation  ok  Oun  Ladt. 


The  hospital  sister  practices  the  virtues  of  Mary, 
and  dies  adventuroless.  But  Mary's  servants  are  of 
all  kinds.  There  are  adventures  in  the  hfo  of  Mar 
guerito  Bourgeoys — more  than  she  sought,  faithful, 
loving  soul,  as  slie  was,  but  not  more  than  God  saw 
v/ere  necessary  for  her  perfection.  She  did  not  look 
for  roses,  nor  did  she  find  them ;  but  her  life  is  itself 
a  rose,  offered  and  accepted  on  Our  Lady's  altar.  If 
the  old  style  of  writing  in  conceits  were  in  vogue,  her 
life  is  one  that  could  almost  be  composed  so  that 
every  third  word  should  be  "  Mary."  That  word  waa 
in  her  mouth  and  in  her  heart,  fi*om  the  time  her  lips 
first  could  frame  it,  until  they  laid  her  head,  whitened 
by  ninety  winters,  beneath  the  snows  of  Canada.  She 
was  born  in  1*)20,  this  Margarita,  this  pearl  of  the 
Queen  of  Virgins.  She  was  called,  in  religion,  Mar- 
guerite of  the  Holy  Sacrament.  She  was  the  founder 
of  that  society  known  as  Daughters  of  the  Congrega- 
tion of  Our  Ladv.' 

It  was  in  the  city  of  Troyes,  in  Champagne,  that 
Marguerite  was  born.  Her  parents,  not  notable  for 
rank  or    wealth,   were    distinguished    for   something 


»  Vie  de  M.  Olier,  p.  394. 
4* 


82 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


'M 


11 


bettor — earnestness  in  the  practice  of  religion.  This 
was  the  best  heritage  th(^y  beciueathocl.  their  dangliter ; 
it  was  the  only  portion  of  th'ur  beqn(!sts  that  she  re- 
tained. Her  childhood  was  di^;tinguiKhed,  quite  early, 
by  a  certain  grave  piety,  which  was  always  character- 
istic of  her  ill  after-life,  and  l)y  zeal  in  the  confraterni- 
ties and  rosary  societies  to  which  sho  belonged.  It 
was  at  a  feast  of  our  Blessed  Lad}'  that  she  first 
canght  a  glimpse  of  her  vocjiiion.  It  was  the  festival 
of  the  Iiosary,  and  Marguerite  had  gone  to  join  in  the 
procession,  which  it  is  the  custom  of  the  Dominicans 
to  make  on  tliis  day.  On  this  occasion,  Anno  IGIO,  so 
great  was  the  throng  of  people,  that  the  pomp  was 
forced  from  its  usual  neighborhood  into  tlie  larger 
streets,  and  passed  before  the  grand  catliedral  church 
of  Notre  Dame.  A  statue  of  the  Holv  Mother  of  God 
adorned  the  grand  portal,  and  Marguerite  saw  it,  as 
she  thought,  at  least,  environed  with  lustre  ;  while  the 
eyes,  full  of  kindly  intelligence,  appeared  to  look  wist- 
fully at  her.  luiiigination  or  reality.  Marguerite  re- 
ceived it  as  an  invitation  to  consecrate  herself  to  God, 
under  the  auspices  of  St.  Mary.  And,  from  that  mo- 
ment, all  the  innocent  little  fineries  of  dress,  in  which, 
like  otht^r  girls,  she  had  Intherto  indulged,  were  laid 
aside,  and  she  thought  only,  lusnceforward,  of  how  sho 
might  acomplish  her  self-dedication. 

At  first  she  tried  to  gain  admission  into  the  convent 
of  our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel;  but  God  had  other 
work  for  her,  and  sho  was  l)a(Hed  in  this  attempt, 
although  she  persisted  for  years — although  it  became 


the  ^^'( 
brothc 


IN  NouTH  America. 


83 


tlie  strongest  desire  of  her  heart.  There  wfis  another 
order  of  nuns  wlioni  she  frv^quentcd  in  Trojcs,  tlioso 
of  Notre  Dame,  devoted  to  i  istruetion,  and  tliey  had 
under  lluir  supervision  a  mm.ber  of  young  persons, 
united  by  an  agreement,  witliout  vo'.v,  living  each  in 
lier  own  family,  and  visiting  and  instructing  those  who 
could  not  attend  the  classes  of  the  niins.  These  were 
called  the  "  outside  Congregation  of  our  Lady,"  and 
into  it  the  nuaidxur  received  our  I\[argue.rite  with 
gratitude.  This  was  her  novitiate.  Here  she  prac- 
tised all  those  virtues  of  holy  poverty  and  self-sacri- 
li(!e,  charity  and  devotion,  with  whiidi,  afterwards,  she 
made  America  illustrious.  So,  in  the  course  of  time, 
her  saintly,  mortified  life  Avon  great  grace  for  her. 
Her  heart  was  always  filled  with  fervor  Avium  she  ap- 
proached the  Holy  Communion ;  nay,  sueh  was  her 
devotion,  that  our  Lord  vouchsafed  to  shoAv  himself 
to  her  in  the  Blessed  Sacraiuc^nt  as  a  little  child 
incomparabl}'  beautiful.  It  Avas  the  Feast  of  Our 
Lady's  Assumption,  the  chief  festival  of  her  congre- 
gation. 

Am(mg  the  nuns  of  Notre  Dame  Avas  a  sister  of  that 
pious  noble,  the  commandant  of  Ville-Marie.  Another 
sister,  equally  devoted,  Madame  de  Cuilly,  remained  in 
the  Avorld.  Of  course,  botli  Avere  interested  in  their 
brother's  fiir-aAvay  colony  in  America ;  they  had 
pledged  themselves  to  use  every  effort  to  procure  for 
liiin  some  religious,  for  the  instruction  of  the  young 
people,  and,  for  a  long  time,  many  of  the  nuns  of 
Notre  Dame  hoped  to  be  sent.     They  had  given  to 


,  1  » 


I!     i 


H 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


M.  de  Mfiisonneuvo  a  picture  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
whereon  tlicy  had  written,  in  testimony  of  their  prom- 
ise and  desire,  these  lines  : 

"O  Holy  Mother  of  our  Ood,  Virgin  of  loyal  lioart, 
Keup  for  us,  of  thy  royal  mount  [Montreal],  a  consecrated  part." 

Naturally,  then,  the  good  sisters  talked  much  about 
Canada,  and  Marguerite  Bourgooj-s  listened.  For,  by 
this  time,  she  had  won  the  respect  and  love  of  the 
whole  community,  and  had  been  offered  admission  to 
the  Order;  biit  it  Avas  not  her  vocation — that,  as  far  as 
she  knew  it  yet,  was  to  be  a  Carmelite.  But  de  Maison- 
neiive,  aviving  in  France  to  look  for  hospital  sisters 
for  Mademoiselle  Manse,  and  soldiers  for  the  defence 
of  his  co!.,>nists,  went,  as  he  ever  did,  to  visit  his  sifters 
at  Troycs.  It  was  in  the  parlor  of  the  convent  at 
Notre  Dame  that  Marguerite  met  him,  and  heard  him 
talk  of  Ville-Marie.  Then  she  knew  at  last  where  her 
vocation  was.  If  she  needed  confirmation,  she  had 
seen  the  commandant  in  a  dream  some  weeks  before 
his  arrival,  and  recognized  him  as  soon  as  she  saw 
him ;  and  when,  in  the  absence  of  the  bishop,  she  went 
to  take  counsel  of  the  vicar-general,  he  told  her,  in  so 
many  words,  that  God  required  her  in  Canada. 

To  know  her  vocation  was  to  follow  it.  She  was 
guardian  of  a  younger  brother  and  sister,  and  she 
arranged  at  once  for  their  education.  She  had  some 
property — she  made  it  over  to  them  and  to  the  poor, 
and  stood  free  in  the  world.  She  said,  "  I  am  ready  ;" 
and  then  came  the  difficulties  and  temptations.    The 


IN  North  AjriiiucA. 


85 


t 


IS 

le 
le 

Ibe 


roligioiis,  rcfuscJ  for  tlio  present  by  cle  Maiaonneuve, 
dissuiiiloJ  licr  from  going  until  they  coukl  go  too.  She 
desired  to  liavo  with  her  a  member  of  that  "  outside 
congregation,"  of  whi(,'h  she  had  for  some  time  been 
prefect,  a  young  girl,  whose  honor  she  had  saved ;  bn ' 
circumstances  were  inexorable :  only  one  could  be 
taken ;  there  was  employment  only  for  one.  Mar- 
guerite must  stay  or  go  alone — alone,  of  her  sex,  in  a 
ship  filled  with  newly-recruited  soldiers,  and  their 
commander,  whom  she  had  reen  but  once.  Not  an 
easy  obstacle  this  to  surmount. 

She  has  recourse  to  her  confessor.  "  Go  freely,"  he 
says ;  "  M.  de  Maisonneuvo  will  be  your  guardian ;  he 
is  one  of  the  noblest  knights  in  the  court  of  the  Queen 
of  Angels."'  Still,  nature  and  modest  education  are 
powerful :  Marguerite  yet  hesitates ;  then  the  Blessed 
Virgin  herself  decides.  One  morning,  while  meditating 
ia  her  own  chamber,  a  lady,  beautiful,  white-robed, 
surrounded  with  a  halo  of  flashing  yet  tender  light, 
appears  before  her,  and  says  gently  :  "  Go,  Marguerite, 
to  Canada  ;  I  will  not  abandon  thee."  This  settles  the 
matter.  Come  now  what  may,  she  will  be  at  Nantes 
for  the  embarkation  by  the  Feast  of  the  Visitation  of 
St.  Mary.  Many  a  thing  will  come — temj^tations,  re- 
monstrances, imputations  which  are  the  hardest  for 
women  to  endure,  but  all  useless.  She  quits  Troyes, 
in  the  Octave  of  the  Purification,  for  Paris.     At  Paris 

'  "  C'est  un  dc8  premiers  chevaliers  de  la  chambre  de  la  Reine  des 
Anges." — Vie  dc  Sojur  Marguerite,  p.  51. 


86 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mxtiy 


hIic  is  f^oiiovally  liuiglicd  at ;  licr  undo  tli(>ro,  not  sliar- 
iii}^  in  tlu!  liiliirity,  storni^j,  iir^ucs,  rc'l)iik(>s,  forbids, 
brinpf.s  to;\vs  ubundantlj  nnd  Inuuhlo  protestations  of 
nfVection,  but  no  cbango  of  puvposc.  Tlio  provincial 
of  tlio  Carmelites  b(>^';.s  lior  to  renounce  tin's  crazy  ad- 
venture— oH'tM's  to  procuro  her  reception  in  any  Car- 
molito  convent  she  prefers.  Here,  then,  is  the  dearest 
wish  of  hci-  heart  j-ealixed  at  last,  and  it  stagj.i;(!rs  her 
ft  little.  She  pays  a  visit  to  tlu!  nearest  church,  and 
comes  b)  ;'lc  fixed.  It  is  not  to  Our  Lady  of  Mount 
Carmel  chat  she  belongs,  but  to  Our  L\dy  of  Yille- 
Mario. 

Then  sho  makes  up  her  comforts  for  the  voyage. 
These  consist  of  a  crucifix,  a  rosary,  a  book  of  devo- 
tions, and  a  chancro  of  linen.  She  tak(\s  this  lui:'t:!;a"o 
in  her  hand,  and  she  starts  for  the  port  of  Nantes. 
Travellinu;  alone,  she  is  frequently  i]isalt( d  ;  at  Saunmr 
and  at  Orleans  she  is  contemptuously  refused  entrance 
at  the  hotels.  One  ni^^lit  she  passes  in  a  stable,  the 
other  in  a  clmrch.  She  has  a  letter  for  a  merchant  at 
Nantes,  v.hom,  on  her  arrival,  she  meets  in  the  street. 
He  gives  her  the  address  of  his  house,  and  promises 
to  follow  thither  shortly.  A  young  man,  going  out 
with  M.  de  ^^raisonneuve,  insists  upon  carrying  her 
little  bundle,  and  they  present  themselves  at  the  house 
of  Monsieur  lo  Coq.  IMadanic,  in  person, 'opens  the 
door  ;  madarae  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the  "  unco 
good."  tjhe  looks  at  the  poor  young  woman  and  the 
youth  beside  her,  and  shuts  the  door  in  their  faces. 
Marguerite  crosses  over  to  the  church  of  the  Jacobii.rf. 


IN  North  AMEnioA. 


87 


m  time  for  tlio  commcncoinont  of  the  Rosary  proces- 
sion, joins  iu  tlio  ceroniony,  iintl  tluni  with  renewed 
i'onrii{,'o  111  tempts  the  nicrehnnt's  house  n;^ain.  TJiis 
time  slie  is  soundly  ruted  for  her  impudence,  and 
dismissed  with  Ignominy.  But,  as  she  turns  away 
patiently,  M.  lo  Coq  liimself  comes  home,  and  the 
weary  servant  of  Mary  finds  a  shelter  at  last. 

She  reposes  for  a  day  or  two.  By  the  Octave  of 
the  B.  Y.  M.  of  Mount  Carnu)l,  she  is  out  at  sea — not 
iu  a  modern  packet-ship,  or  luxurious,  swift-puffin{» 
steamer,  but  in  the  lund)ering  little  transport  of  two 
hundred  years  ago.  In  this  vessel,  sl(!eping  uj)on  n 
pile  of  cordag(%  the  nurse  of  the  sick,  the  consoler  of 
the  distressed,  making  the  night  and  morning  prayer, 
the  attendant  upon  a  hundred  soldiers  and  the  crew, 
the  heroic  woman  traversed  the  Atlantic.  "When  she 
steadily  refused  to  cat  at  his  table,  M.  de  Maisonneuvo 
sent  her  food,  fdtered  water  and  wine,  which  she  re- 
ceived gratefully,  and  distributed  among  her  patients. 
She  ate  the  coarse  fare  of  the  ship  ;  she  drank,  from  a 
little  leathern  cup,  the  ropy,  unsavory  Avater  of  the 
common  cask,  and  drank  but  onc(>  a  day — a  habit  she 
preserved  through  all  her  after-life,  from  devotion  to 
om-  dear  Lord's  bitter  thirst  upon  the  cross.  In  the 
practice  of  these  virtues,  after  a  jo\irney  of  between 
three  and  four  mouths,  sister  Marguerite  arrived  at 
Montreal  about  the  Feast  of  Our  Lady's  Presentation, 
1G53,  and  then  and  there  began  the  labors  which  knew 
no  rest  for  nearly  half  a  century. 

The  town  of  Villo-Marie  had  few  mognificenccs  in 


88 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maiiy 


'« 


I':n' 


tliiit  day.  Witliiu  llio  stockade,  Home  fifty  honaes; 
outsido  tlio  walls,  twenty  or  tliirly  fariiiH,  and  a  half 
hundii'd  of  Indian  wij^waniH — that  was  the  city  of 
Montreal.  But,  small  thon<j;h  it  wore,  Marguerite 
could  lind  work  enough  in  it.  Scarcely  any  one  of 
those  habitations  failo  to  received  a  daily  visit;  you 
saw  liei'  liverywhere,  if  good  were  to  bo  dono  there, 
nursing  the  sick,  consoling  the  sorrowful,  instructing 
the  ignorant,  washing  the  linen  and  mending  the 
clcjthes  of  the  poor,  as  well  as  giving  away  to  the 
needy  what  others  thought  the  very  necessaries  of  life. 
M.  le  Coq  had  given  her  a  bed,  which  she  had  never 
used  on  board  the  ship.  There  was  a  straw  bed,  a 
mattress,  two  ccn'erlets,  and  a  pillow.  In  less  than  a 
week,  one  after  the  other  disappeared,  and  Marguerite 
slept  upon  the  floor  in  tho  Canadian  winter.  In  a 
word,  she  "became  an  eye  unto  tho  bUnd,  and  feet 
unto  the  lame.  "When  tho  ear  heard,  then  it  blessed 
her ;  when  the  eye  saw,  it  gave  Avitness  to  her,  because 
she  delivered  the  poor  that  cried,  the  fatherless,  and 
the  helpless.  Tho  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to 
perish  came  upon  her,  and  she  caused  the  wid(j\v's 
heart  to  sing  for  jo}-." ' 

Above  aU,  she   found  her  greatest  pleasure  in  in- 
structing young  girls,  both  French  and  Indians,  in  the 


ti:-4 


•  Oculus  fui  copco  et  pes  claudo.  Auris  audicns  beatificubiit  me,  et 
oculua  videns,  testimonium  rcddcbat  mild.  Eo  quod  liboriis3Pm 
paupen^ri  vocilrrantfin  ot  pupillum  cui  ivm  csset  adjiitor.  Bcnc- 
dictio  i)erituri  super  mo  veniebut  (,'t  cor  viduae  consolatus  sum. — Job 
zxix. 


■■* 


hrnnchc 
cij)l('H  at 
^nvH  oiu] 
and  (1(>V( 
whom  sli 
coiuljiitri 
iiig  up  a 
tlio  .sj)irii 
iu'aits  of 
these  !;ib( 
no  I)iM'l(lin 
the  coiniiK 
and  did  <^-i 
alwiivH,  of 
scliool,  bnl 
hor  eiiergi 
and  so,  on( 
money;  a 
hcinis,   au 
ai'oso,  just 
of  Good  E\ 
Bvt  the 
arrived,  j\ 
guovite  feltl 
hiixo  lielj). 
to  look  for 

'  r^a  Vie  (1 

Paint  Sdornnil 
^'lles  Seculail 
1818 


IN  Nonrn  AMFRirA. 


89 


branclirs  iiocossiiiry  for  tlioni,  rH])('('iMlly  in  tlin  \n\n- 
cij)li'S  iind  pnicticd  of  rclii^'ion.  "Slu^  iiiHpircd  tlicni," 
BJivH  ono  of  her  l)io{j;rMpli('rs,  "  witli  HciitinicntH  of  love 
niul  devotion  towiii'ds  tlio  iiuj^'iiHt  INFotlHT  of  God,  to 
wlioin  slio  WHS  hcrsjdf  particularly  dcvotiul.  A  -worthy 
coadjutrix  of  ]M.  do  INTaisoiuu'Uvo,  whilo  ho  was  build- 
ing; u})  a  material  rity  for  IMary,  sh(>  was  establishing 
the  spiritual  empire!  of  tliat  IMessed  Mother  in  the 
hearts  of  tho  faithful."'  For  four  years  oocupiod  in 
those  labors,  she  ran  from  house  to  house,  for  as  yet 
no  building  could  hv  spanul  her  for  a  school.  But  if 
the  commandant  could  give  her  no  buildhig,  he  coidd 
anil  did  give  her  land  ;  and  on  this,  thinl<ing  first,  as 
ahviivH,  of  St.  Mary,  she  doter.nined  to  build,  not  a 
school,  but  a  chapel  in  her  honor.  Then  she  redoiibled 
her  energies,  running  about  to  every  one  in  the  town  ; 
and  so,  one  brought  wood,  and  another  stone;  a  few, 
money ;  a  greater  number,  their  stout  arms,  willing 
hearts,  and  mechanical  skill ;  and  thus  tho  chapel 
arose,  just  where  now  stands  the  church  of  Our  Lady 
of  Good  Help  (da  Bon-secours). 

But  the  colony  was  growing  large — a  bishop  had 
arrived,  INIgi'.  do  Laval  do  Montmorenci — and  Mar- 
guerite felt  that,  if  her  work  was  to  go  forward,  she  must 
havti  help.  Mademoiselle  Manse  was  going  to  France 
to  look  for  hospital  sisters,  and  for  relief  for  her  nse- 


'  La  Vie  do  la  Vcnnrablo  Sopur  Mnrguorito  Bourj^eoys,  dito  du 
Saint  SiicrnTiient,  InKtitntricc,  Fondatriro  ct  ]ireinirTo  Suporieuro  des 
Fillca  Seculairea  de  la  Congregation  de  Notre  Dame.  Ville-Marie, 
1818 


90 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maky 


loss  Jirm.  MiU'giKM'itc  tlirn  ('(iiild  w;iit  upon  lior,  niul 
so  siuu'lify  the  v(n!i|!;(\  itsc-ll';  and,  wIumi  arrived  in 
rv<'iiu'(\,  could  j^ailu'V  soiU(i  dc'votcd  souls,  and,  if  it 
weiv  (Jod's  Avill,  (>stal)lisli  si  {!oiijj;roj2;!itioii  oJ'  Our  Lady 
in  Villo-]\rai'io.  They  liad  a  sato  and  pleasant  passag(!; 
thoy  visitcMl  toj^clluM'  M.  Olior's  toiul),  and,  tog(>tlier, 
nnidered  tlianks  to  (u)il  for  the  niercy  extendcHl  to 
Madonioisollo  IMaiiso.  Alone,  as  slio  canio,  so  slio 
goes  back  to  ]u>r  native  country,  a  simple,  woman, 
without  raidc,  wealth,  or  iulluen('(>,  to  ask  parents  for 
their  daughters,  to  go  to  an  isle  in  a  seavc(>  explored 
river,  threc^  thousand  miles  away,  surrounded  by  cruel 
and  hostiki  savages,  to  instruct  the  children  of  poor 
colonists  and  Indians  in  the  knowledge^  of  the  Gos])el 
oi  God.  Truly  it  I'l^tpured  smno  coiilideuco  to  u>  dco 
the  ro(|U(^st,  and  more  to  hope  for  a  favorable  re- 
sponse. Put  Marguerite  knew  to  wlvnu  she  looked, 
whom  she  loved  in  Invr  heart,  Avlio-.n  she  trusteed  in, 
■whom  she  had  chosen.'  "I  will  come  back  in  a  year, 
and  successful,"  she  said,  as  she  Icit  Montreal,  on  the 
Octave  of  the  Virgin's  Nativit}',  1058. 

No  sooner  had  slio  arrived  in  Troves,  than  three  of 
her  old  companions  }>resented  themselves  to  her  for 
the  missioij. ;  but  the  f;ither  of  one  of  thoni,  a  notary, 
wanted  a  little  information  on  the  subject.  "  How  did 
they  live,  for  instance,  in  that  wild  country  ?"  "  Thoy 
had  a  stable,"  said  Marguerite,  "  which  M.  do  Maisou- 


'  Reguum  mundi  ct  omncni  oriiiitura  wrruli  contompsi  propter 
amorem  Domini  inci  Josu  Cliristi,  quem  vidi,  queiii  omavi,  in  quern 
cred'di,  qucm  dllcxi. — Com.  uuu  Virg. 


IN  North  America. 


91 


nenve  had  given  thorn,  and  whidi  only  wanted  some 
repairs  to  make  a  residence  of  it."  The  notary  wished 
to  know  what  inducements  were  ofl'ered  to  those  who 
Bhould  inhabit  this  fine  lodging?  "  Trouhles,  hnmili- 
ations,  and  hibors,"  answered  Margmnite.  "  Was  it 
pro|K)sed  to  support  hl'e  exchisively  upon  these?" 
askcnl  the  notary.  "Oh,  no;  she  Avoukl  insure  them 
bread  and  soup,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  that 
was  enough."  The  tears  arose  in  the  old  man's  eyes. 
"  You  shall  have  my  daugliter,"  he  said,  "  provided 
you  accept  a  dowry  with  her."  Marguerite  thanked 
him,  in  Our  Lady's  name,  for  the  former,  but  refused 
niouiiy  ui)on  any  conditions.  At  length,  with  five  re- 
cruits, she  returns  to  America  and  her  stable  in  Islo 
Mont-Eoyal. 

"It  was  a  stone  building,  this  stable,"  she  tells  us, 
"about  twenty-live  feet  square,  and  had  long  been  a 
retreat  for  aninuds  of  every  sort.  But  I  had  a  chimney 
built,  and  got  it  cleaned  ;  so  that  we  could  lodge  there 
the  children  Avhom  the  Indians  gave  us,  as  well  as  hold 
our  schools.  As  for  us,  there  was  a  sort  of  dove-cot, 
or  garret,  above,  where,  until  now,  pigeons  lird  been 
bred,  and  of  this  I  made  our  dormitory  and  corn- 
munit3'-room,  although  it  was  rather  inconvenient  of 
approach,  the  only  access  being  by  a  ladder  outside."^ 
Yet,  in  this  establishment  they  lived,  taught  their 
schools,  guarded  young  emigrant  girls  who  came  from 
France — once  as  many  as  eighteen — and  trained  their 


'  Vie  de  Marguerite  Bourgcoys,  p.  81. 


92 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mart 


postulants  anil  Indian  converts.  Next,  tliey  spared 
two  sisters  for  the  famous  Mountain  Mission  of  tlie 
Iroquois.  It  was  tlie  mountain  wLicli  Jacques  Cartier 
had  surnamed  the  Royal,  and  Avhich  gave  its  name, 
corrupted,  to  the  island. 

When  first,  in  1G19,  M.  do  Maisonneuve  beheld  the 
stately  heij^ht,  that  "  knight  of  the  Queen  of  Angels" 
vowed  to  erect  a  cross,  the  standard  of  his  Lord,  upon 
its  summit,  and  to  place  beside  it  the  lesser  banner  of 
his  sovereign  Lady.  So  he  caused  a  tall,  massive 
cross  to  be  made  ;  and  he  himself  bore  it  painfully  to 
the  top  of  the  mountain,  planting  it  firmly  there,  and 
inserting  carefull}-,  in  a  niche  at  its  foot,  the  iniiige 
given  him  by  his  sisters  at  Troyes.  This  took  place 
the  same  year  and  season — perhaps  the  same  day  and 
hour — in  which  Marguerite,  looking  ixp  from  the 
Kosary  procession  upon  the  groat  statue  of  Our  Lady, 
beheld  it  rob(;d  Avith  uuAvonted  splendors. 

So  now  she  sent  two  sisters  to  toil  among  tlie  In- 
dians ;  for  M.  de  Belmont,  serving  there  as  priest,  had 
opened  schools  for  the  savages,  which  were  well  at- 
tended. And  there  the  sisters  dwelt  in  birch-bark 
wigwams,  and  labored  for  the  spiritual  weal  of  tlio 
native  American.  "When  advancing  civilization  drovo 
the  Indians  thence  to  the  Saut  au  Ilecollet,  and  thenco 
to  the  Lake  of  Two  Mountains,  the  sisters  followed 
them,  and  are  still  found  there  in  18G2,  faithful  to  their 
inherited  duties,  as  were  the  first  two  sent  by  Sister 
Marguerite.  But  labors  and  troubles  accumulated— 
diificulties  about  the  congregation — hard  u  ork  in  get- 


ting th 
to  unit( 
see  witl 
to  Fran 
tion  frc 
to  tlie  ] 
these  ni 
the  niou 
is  oblige 
guerite 
wliom  to 
the  charl 
One  tr 
pany  of  ] 
votion   t 
Pretre,  I 
relics  in  i 
little  Stat 
to  work 
ViUe-Mar 
for  it,  aiu 
where,  j>s 
consecrat 
portion  o 
camp,  an 
was  hoale 
then  he 
headed  t 
his  own 
image  at 


IN  North  Ameeica. 


93 


ting  the  nile.  The  saintly  bishop  hesitates,  -svcmld  like 
to  unite  the  orders  of  Quebec  aud  Ville-Marie,  does  not 
see  with  Sister  Marguerite's  eyes.  She  must  needs  go 
to  rniuce  again,  and  get  a  charter  for  her  congrega- 
tion from  Louis  le  Grand ;  -which  charter,  according 
to  the  propriety  of  dates  -which  seems  to  accompany 
these  matters,  is  issued  and  signed  by  King  Louis  in 
the  mouth  of  May.  Mgr.  de  Montmorenci  falls  ill,  and 
is  obliged  to  resign  his  see  ;  so  that,  when  Sister  Mar- 
guerite returns  to  Canada,  she  finds  no  bishop  to 
whom  to  submit  herself  and  the  rule,  as  the  term  of 
the  charter  required. 

One  treasure  she  acquires  in  France.  All  the  Com- 
pany of  Montreal,  we  know,  were  distinguished  for  de- 
votion to  the  holy  Virgin  Mary.  Amonj^'  them,  le 
Pretre,  lord  of  Fleury,  had  a  collection  of  ancient 
relics  in  the  chapel  of  his  castle.  One  of  these  was  a 
httle  statue  of  Our  Lad}',  by  which  it  had  pleased  God 
to  work  miracles.  This  ho  determined  to  send  to 
Ville-Marie,  where,  he  hoped,  a  chapel  would  be  built 
for  it,  and  where  it  would  be  more  honored  than  else- 
where, PS  that  toAvn  and  colony  were  more  particularly 
consecrated  to  the  pure  Mother  of  God  than  any  other 
portion  of  the  world.  Being  brought  to  M.  do  Fan- 
camp,  another  member  of  the  Company  in  Paris,  ho 
was  healed  instantaneously  of  a  dangerous  illness,  and 
then  he  vowed  to  labor  stiuulfastly  for  the  chapel, 
headed  the  subscription  list  with  a  lieav}''  sum  from 
his  own  purse,  and  placed  that  sum  aud  the  sacred 
image  at  once  in  the  hands  of  Sister  Marguerite.     It 


94 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


was  the  consolation  of  tlie  sisters  on  tlieir  voj'age,  and 
the  object  of  their  unremitting  zeal  on  their  arrival, 
which  ha})}Hnied  on  tlie  eve  of  the  Assumption.  So 
well  they  labored,  that,  on  that  daj'  two  years,  they 
saw  the  chapel  finished — the  first  stone  church  erected 
in  Montreal — walked  in  the  long  procession,  and  heard 
the  first  Mass  within  its  walls.  The  house  of  the  Con- 
gi'egation  rose  l^eside  it,  and  the  sisters  dwelt  tad 
toiled  there  under  the  eye  of  their  tender  Mother. 

Many  a  storm  passes  by  her  and  over  her  during  all 
these  years.  Chapel  and  house  consumed  to  ashes; 
the  first  English  war  and  the  captui*e  of  the  city ;  the 
burden  of  the  Superiority — for  the  order  numbers 
forty  persons  now,  and  she  desires  to  lay  down  the 
authority,  to  place  it  in  younger  hands ;  nay,  she 
walks  to  Quebec,  on  foot,  through  the  midwinter  snow, 
at  the  ag(!  of  sfrcn/y-f/ircc,  to  beg  remissi(ni  fi'om  the 
oflice,  but  the  bishop  (Lacroix)  will  not  listen  to  her. 
"  Go  back,  IMarguerite,  to  your  austerities,  your  labors, 
to  this  position  of  honor,  harder  for  your  humility  to 
bear  than  either  :  'qx!  pcrscrorairrit  vsque  h  Ji)ie)ii  hie. 
salvuh  cn'f — whoso  persevereth  unto  the  end,  ho  shall 
be  saved.""  So  Marguerite  persevered,  lived  to  see 
her  mission-schools  spread  over  the  land  ;  to  hear  her 
communitv  blessed  bv  everv  mouth ;  to  build  a  new 

oliurcli,  in  1(195,  and  to  see  there  founded  tlie  i)erpet- 

« 

ual  adoration  of  the  most  holy  Sacrament.  Her  prayer 
on  this  occasion  to  the  Prisoner  of  Love  is  jireserved, 


'  St.  Matthew,  x.  23, 


IN  NOKTII   AmERKJA. 


95 


wherein  she  Loseechcs  His  especial  hcncclietion  upon, 
and  his  guardianship  for,  her  sisterliood.  "  Most  Holy 
Virgin,"  thus,  after  long  supplication  to  Jesus  in  the 
Sacrament,  it  ends,  "remember  that  thou  art  our 
Mother.  Be,  too,  our  advocate,  and  supply  what  our 
devotion  to  thy  Son  is  lacking  in.  Make  us  see  the 
power  of  thy  intercession  with  Him,  bearing  thyself 
our  poor  and  feirblo  prayers  to  Him,  and  presenting 
them  thyself  l^efore  the  throne  of  His  glory." 

And,  now,  the  day  was  well-nigh  over — tlie  hour  was 
approaciliing  for  repose,  for  reward.  Sixty  years  of 
austerities  and  toils  had  done  their  work  upon  the 
weary  frame — forty-seven  of  those  years  in  the  wilds 
of  Canada.  Consult  her  life  for  the  extraordinary 
spirit  of  mortification  which  always  luh^d  her,  or  judge 
what  treatment  she  reserved  for  herself  when  she  pre- 
scribed this  course  for  her  community :  "  To  live  in 
perfect  renunciation  of  self  and  all  tilings  earthly  ;  to 
seek  only  the  glory  of  God  ;  to  be  devoted  to  the  in- 
stniction  of  young  girls,  and  the  practice  of  all  good 
works,  without  murmuring  at  the  pain,  troiible,  humili- 
ations, and  suffering  which  are  mscparablo  from  those  ; 
to  imitate  the  sim})le  and  modest  life  of  Mary  in  all  • 
things ;  on  their  missions  to  imitate  the  Apostles  ;  to 
travel  always,  when  possible,  on  foot ;  to  win  their 
broad  by  the  labor  of  their  hands  ;  to  be  chargeable  to 
no  one.  In  their  missions  and  commuuirv  to  have 
only  the  simplest,  poorest,  most  indispensable  furni- 
ture ;  to  Avear  the  commonest  clothing,  and  eat  the 
coarsest  food ;  to  havo  no  better  be(l  than  straw  ;  to 


96 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


i. 


live  in  all  things  as  tlie  poorest  people,  only  in  scrupu- 
lous neatness.  Such  was  her  rule  for  others ;  it  was 
luxurious  when  compared  with  the  rule  for  herself." ' 
Thus,  when  the  Master  came,  He  found  His  servant  \    I 

watching,  and  the  end  was  on  this  wise.  Sister  Cath- 
erine, the  mistress  of  tlie  novices,  lay  dying  in  the  in- 
firuiar}',  still  young,  but  early  called.  The  last  sacra- 
ments had  been  administered ;  the  agony  came  on. 
The  sisters  Avatching  her  ran  to  the  various  rooms  to 
summon  all  to  the  prayers  for  the  dying.  When  they 
came  to  sister  Marguerite,  she  groaned  in  spirit,  and 
said :  "  O  Father  !  why  not  take  me,  the  old  and  use- 
less, and  spare  that  poor  sister  who  can  yet  serve 
Thee  long  ?"  xVnd  Mary  bore  the  aspiration  of  self- 
sacrifice  to  the  feet  of  God,  and  God  heard  it,  and 
granted  it.  Sister  Catherine  rose  up  cured.  Sister 
Marguerite  lay  down  upon  a  couch  of  cruel  anguish 
for  ten  days,  borne  with  thanksgiving  and  hynnis  of 
praise,  and  then,  on  the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany,  she 
fell  into  a  SAveet  and  gentle  agony,""  and,  Avith  her 
hands  crossed  meekly  on  her  bosom,  Avent  to  "  find  the 
young  Child  and  His  Mother"  in  the  courts  of  heaven, 
January  12,  a.  d.  1700. 

HoAV  simply  she  told  her  Mother  Avhat  she  desired 
for  her  congregation !  "  Oh,  my  good  Mothei-,  I  ask 
for  our  coiumunity  no  goods,  no  honors,  no  pleasures 
of  this  life.  Obtain  for  me  only  that  God  may  be 
faithfully   served,   and    that    Ave    may   never    receiA'e 

'  Vie  de  Soeur  Marguerite,  p.  139.  =  Ibid.,  p.  1G8. 


she  g 

laud 

coun 

estab 

whej'e 

livery 

chose! 

Fo] 

for  the 

one  vc 


IN  North  America. 


97 


^jity  or  presumptuous  persons  in  our  mitlst ;  nor 
36  whose  hearts  are  in  the  world ;  nor  who  aro 
.ijiclercrs  or  mockers ;  nor  any  save  such  us  will  study 
to  practise  those  maxims  which  our  Lord,  thy  divine 
Son,  has  taught  us,  has  sealed  with  His  bhjod,  and 
Avhich  thou,  oh,  most  Holy  Virgin,  hast  observed  with, 
such  exiictitude.'"  How  dearly  she  loved  the  very 
name  of  Mary,  giving  it  in  baptism  to  the  poor  little 
Indian  babes,  abandoned  or  easily  given  up  by  their 
parents!  The  first,  baptized  on  the  feast  of  Our  Lady 
of  Snows,  and  all  the  others,  wore  named  Mary.  One, 
an  Illinois  girl,  lived  to  be  eighteen,  and  died  a  holy 
death  in  their  house.  Other  two,  Iroquois,  Mary 
Barbe,  and  an  Algonquin  of  the  same  name,  became 
sisters  of  the  community. 

But  Marguerite's  whole  life  was  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin ;  every  thought  was  affected  by  her, 
every  act  was  done  as  if  by  her  direction.  To  IMary 
she  gave  herself  in  Franco  ;  for  her  slie  left  her  native 
laud  forever,  to  dwell  in  a  wild  and  just  discovered 
country,  in  a  town  bearing  the  name  of  Mary,  to 
establish  a  congregation  under  the  name  of  Mary,, 
where  the  books,  and  houses,  and  persons  wore  the 
livery  of  Mary,  and  where  Mary  herself  was  solemnly 
chosen  first  and  perpetual  superior. 

For,  at  the  first  formal  assembly  of  the  congregation 
fnr  the  election  of  a  superior,  the  sisters  liad  (niod  with 
one  voice,  that  "  they  would  have  the  Blessed  Virgin 


Vie  do  Soeur  Marguerite,  p.  114. 


9S 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Matiy 


I 


for  tluMV  saporior,  tlioir  origin,  founder,  i')rotoctres8, 
and  good  mother  for  time  and  for  eternity.'"  And 
then  jMiirgnerite  and  the  rest  of  them  prostrated  thora- 
solves  before  the  image  of  our  dear  Lady,  and  made 
this  prayer,  reiiienihere  I  and  preserved  by  tlie  sister- 
hood :  "Look,  lioly  A^irgin,  on  this  little  band  of  thy 
servants,  avIio  liave  eonseerated  themselves  to  God's 
se:-viee  niuh-r  i!iy  direction,  and  Avho  desire  to  follow 
thee  as  good  children  follow  their  mother  and  mistress, 
and  who  consider  thee  as  their  superior,  hoping  that 
God  Avill  give  t(^  theo  the  rule  over  a  community  which 
is  thine  own  creation.  "We  have  nothing  worthy  to 
present  to  God  ;  but  we  hope,  by  thine  intercession, 
to  obtain  the  graces  necessary  for  our  salvation  and 
for  the  perfection  of  our  state.  Thou  knowest  better 
than  we  what  we  need,  and  what  we  should  ask  for. 
Kefuse  us  not  tliine  aid.  Help  us,  by  thy  praj'ors,  to 
receive  liglit  and  grace  from  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  that 
we  may  labor  faithfully  in  the  instruction  of  tlie  young 
girls  whom  it  is  our  especial  diarge  to  teach.  xVnd, 
above  all,  oh,  our  dear  Lady  and  Mother,  procure  that 
we,  the  teachers,  and  all  the  children  to  us  committed, 
and  all  who  shall  contribute  to  their  spiritual  advance- 
ment, may  be  of  the  number  of  the  elect ;  so  that,  in 
thy  society,  wo  may  praise  our  good  God  in  the  joy 
which  endureth  forever.""  And  so  it  ]ia})pens  tliat,  in 
the  Congregation  of  Our  Lady,  there  are  no  earilily 
superiors,  but  only  sub-supcn'iors. 


"Th 


■  Vic  tie  Soeur  Marguerite,  p.  148. 


I'uid. 


tiuue  til 
sire  in 
girls. 
pronn's(| 
limbo. 


■1 


IN  North  Abieiuca. 


99 


We  would  lilco  to  show,  by  its  manifolil  varicKl  oxam- 
plos,  tlio  z(>al  of  ]\[aijj;uoritG  for  Cod's  scrvie(3  in  otlior 
cliainicls  of  d(>v()tioii,  but  it  (^annot  lia,vo  place  in  this 
book,  wliicli  is  dcMlieatcd  to  ono  topic  only.  Dut,  she 
ustnl  to  toll  her  sisterhood,  and  her  entire  life  exhibited 
li'T  own  conviction  of  its  truth,  that  their  zeal,  to  bo 
])orteet,  nnist  be  formed  upon  the  model  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin's,  of  her  whom  it  pleased  the  Eternal  Father  to 
malvc  a  coadjutri v  '\n  a  manner)  of  her  divine  Son's 
work  of  redfnnption.  From  this,  that  dependence  on, 
and  imitation  of,  Mary,  which  she  so  much  insisted  on 
in  the  f<n'mation  of  In^r  society,  it  was  no  barren  and 
transitory  sentiment  of  devotion  which  caused  her  to 
call  her  institute  the  Congrecjation  of  Our  Lady,  under 
the  title  and  invocation  of  the  Visitation  of  jMary.  It 
was  the  expression  of  the  devotion  which  fdled  her 
heart.  It  Avas  a  monument  of  her  own  depend(mco 
and  love — a  model  for  her  sisterhood,  hereafter,  that 
she  proposed  to  establish  by  these  titles.  Some  brief 
quotation  from  her  own  simple  instructions  to  them 
will  not  only  give  ns  an  insight  into  her  ruling  senti- 
ment, but  will  exhibit  the  power  of  one  means  of  ex- 
tending the  devotion  to  the  Mother  of  God  in  this 
country. 

"  The  Blessed  Virgin,"  she  said,  "  desired  to  con- 
tinue the  work  of  God  on  earth :  this  must  bo  our  de- 
sire in  our  special  mission,  the  instruction  of  3'oung 
girls.  As  Mary  used  to  pray  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promises,  f.)r  the  deliverance  of  the  Fathers,  who,  in 
Umbo,  awaited  the  coming  of  the  Just  Ono,  so  must  we 


100 


PRVOTTON  TO  THE  V>.  V.   MaRY 


priiy  cniitinudlly  for  tlio  souls  in  purgatory,  and  for  the 
convorsion  of  sinners  on  cartli. 

"At  tiu!  a<j;(}  of  tlirco  }'cars  slio  was  talccm  to  tho 
Templ(\  as  to  i\w  scliool  of  virtue :  our  novices  must 
be  scholars  of  ^[arj  and  with  Mary  during  their  prep- 
aration. She  was  edifyitijj;  in  all  her  acts  ;  t^ver  ready 
to  serve  others ;  moderate  in  her  repasts  and  in  all 
thiuf^'s  :  and  Ave,  like  Ivv,  nuist  do  all  thiii<j;s  for  edifi- 
cation ;  must  prefer  others  to  ourscdvcs,  and  be  as 
moderate  in  food  and  drink,  in  apparel,  in  slumber, 
and  in  conversation,  as  necessity  will  admit. 

"  Mary  Avas  at  prayer  Avhen  the  angel  saluted  her : 
'Hail,  full  of  grace!'  By  prayer,  then,  must  Ave  gain 
tho  graces  needed  for  our  condition  as  instructresses. 
And  Avlien  our  Lady  had  given  her  consent  to  become 
the  Motluu'  of  God  by  tho  operation  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  at  once  to  shoAV  her  gratitude  to  the  Eternal 
Father,  to  correspond  Avith  the  graces  He  bestoAved, 
and  Avith  His  d;  ..ij^us  for  the  redemption  of  the  human 
race,  she  hastened  to  visit  her  cousin,  Saint  Elizabeth, 
to  become  an  instrument  for  the  sanctification  of  the 
great  Saint  John  the  Baptist,  and  to  carry  grace  and 
salvation  to  the  house  of  Zacharias :  so  Ave,  the  ser- 
vants of  Mary,  on  our  missions,  must  strive  to  contrib- 
ute to  the  sanctification  of  children,  to  edify  all  per- 
sons, especially  those  of  our  OAvn  sex,  and  to  let  tho 
whole  world  know  that  we  are  indeed  daughters  of 
that  most  holy  Virgin. 

"Mary  received,  with  equal  kindness,  both  kings 
and  shepherds  as  they  came  to  adore  her  Son,  and 


took 
Him  : 

SC'lloJ; 

any  o 

labors 

tians 

the  A] 

and,  1) 

if  th(>A 

tlie  sis< 

to  Jabo 

"Jhii 


IN  NoilTII   ABrERTCA. 


101 


took  to  linrsclf  no  titllo  of  tlio  honors  wliioli  tlioy  paid 
Him  :  nov  slmll  tlio  sistora  distinguish  between  thuir 
BchftlMrs,  rich  and  poor,  nor  nttributc  to  tlicniselves 
any  of  the  su(!eess  which  Ood  may  ^runt  to  their 
labors.  It  is  l)ehev<ul  that,  as  tlio  number  of  Chritt- 
tians  increased,  IMury,  and  otiier  holy  women,  jiided 
the  Apostles  by  instructing  pc!rsona  of  tluiir  own  sex, 
and,  by  tlieir  prayers  and  exhortations,  reealhid  th(!m, 
if  they  erred  from  the  promise  of  their  baptism  :  and 
the  sisters  must  bo  ready  to  rec(>ivo  su('l\  in  r(!tre;it,  and 
to  labor  for  their  reformation,  Avhere  that  is  needed. 

"  But  the  life  of  the  Lk'ssed  Virgin  Ijoing  all  perfec- 
tion, and  ineluding  all  the  virtues  of  tlie  religious  state, 
points  her  out  in  all  tilings  as  espeeiolly  to  bo  chosen 
as  our  model,  our  mother,  and  our  directress.  As, 
tlien,  she  has  deigned  to  admit  us  into  the  ranlcs  of 
her  humble  servants,  has  chosen  us  to  imitate  her  life, 
and  is  our  founder  and  superior,  let  us,  in  conforniity 
with  all  the  graces  given  us,  as  far  as  the  frailty  and 
corruption  of  (uir  nature  Avill  allow  us,  imitate  her 
virtues.  Our  good  God  has  always,  in  the  history  of 
the  Church,  given  to  the  founders  of  religious  orders 
the  special  graces  demanded  by  the  spirit  of  their  in- 
stitutions ;  be  sure,  then,  that  he  Avill  accord  to  Mary, 
our  d<nir  founder,  the  graces  which  she  ashs  for  her 
daughters,  so  entirely  consecrated  to  her  glory  and 
that  of  lier  Eternal  Holy  Son. 

*'  Study,  then,  her  life,  oh,  my  sisters,  and  imitate 
her  virtues,  and,  if  we  are  faitiiful,  we  may  be  confident 
of  her  perpetual  help." 


102 


Devotion  to  the  13.  V.  ^Iaiiy 


•    ,1 


Tliia  is  tlio  .spirit  wliicli  luiiiiuittul  tlio  Avliolu  lifo  of 
this  foiiiitly  woiimii — tho  spirit  wliicli  hIio  curcfully  in- 
stilled into  tlio  Coiifjjroj^atioii  tliiit  hIus  foiiiultul.  lu 
lior  owu  ]ou<f,  Liborious  lH'c,  kIio  formed  fit  least  sixty 
of  tlio  sisters  lifter  this  uiodel ;  niid  sineo  slio  has 
passed,  lis  wo  believe,  to  lier  etcrniil  joy  iind  reward, 
slio  1ms  seen  from  lieav(;n  that  Coiij^i-egatiou  ramify 
and  extend  over  tho  couiilry,  preserving  intact  the 
principles  sho  left  them.  At  this  hour,  in  tho  !ialf- 
dozeii  dioceses  wo  can  learn  about,  nioro  than  three 
hundred  sisters  of  the  Congregation  aro  teaching  tho 
example  of  ?,Iury  to  scrcn  f/ioKsaud  pupils  in  tho  very 
spirit  of  their  venerable  founder. 

So  you  sec,  my  reader,  what  Marguerite  Dourgeoys, 
tlio  poor  girl  of  Troyes,  tho  austere,  lowly  religious  of 
tho  colony  in  the  wilderness,  has  to  do  with  devotion 
to  Oui'  Lady  in  North  America. 


If.''. 


Ill  NoiiTii  Ameuioa. 

V 


103 


CHArTER  V. 

KxTKnVINATlON  OP    TIIK    lIlIUONH— Oril     LadY     op    FoIE— NkW    LnUKTTO— 

The  NoiiTiiwKST -htM\('t;i,ATK  Concki'tiov  in    Illinoih  -Maiiy  Ako— 
Down  TIIK   MiHHifHii'i'i  -  Mack   jh    Moniukal  -Out    Ladit's  'iiiAiiD— 

TlIK  ('"NOnEOATlO.V   AOAIN— TlIK   ReOLUSK  op  VltLE-MAlUE— Ouit   Laut 

OF  Anoels.  • 

Westwaiid  from  Naziirctli  antl  Bctlilolicm,  through 
Eiiropo,  to  tlio  HhorcH  of  America ;  westward,  athwart 
that  continent,  advanced  th(5  devotion  to  Mary,  on  its 
couaecrating  march  to  the  Pacific.  Wo  have  soon  tho 
))road  St.  Lawrence  entered  by  her  servants ;  a  vast 
manor  given  up  to  lier  in  the  territory  of  Quebec  ;  a  city 
built  as  a  moniimciut  of  devotion  to  her,  and  scjlemnly 
called  by  her  name ;  and  tho  bearers  of  her  standard 
pushing  westward,  painfully,  but  with  courage  uu- 
diuching,  and  planting  a  fort  or  a  chapel,  a  station  or 
a  mission-house  of  St.  Mary,  to  mark  their  toilsome 
l)ut  triumphant  way.  Let  us  follow  it  as  it  leads 
through  the  limits  of  the  present  British  i)ossessions ; 
tlit'u  through  the  French  claim,  down  tho  Yalh^y  of  the 
Mississippi,  antl  so  to  its  progress  under  the  Spsinish 
flag,  and  to  tho  settlement  of  the  United  States.  This 
much  will  bring  us  to  the  year  177G,  and  thus  to  the 
present  day. 

The  Huron  learned  quickly  to  lovo  tho  name  oi 
Mary.    Above  all,  the  women  looked  up,  from  their  la- 


104 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


borious  debasement,  to  this  glorified  model  of  woman- 
hood ;  and  when  they  heard  from  the  Jesuit  or  the 
Sulpician  that,  by  imitating  her  virtues,  they  might 
share  in  her  glory ;  when  they  saw  the  Ursuline,  the 
Hospitaliere,  and  the  daughter  of  Notre  Dame,  tread- 
ing this  sanctified  path,  they  gave  up  their  very  hearts 
to  the  Immaculate  Queen,  and  besought  her  followers 
on  earth  to  teach  them  the  way  to  her  protection. 
Nor  less  did  the  tall  warrior  swear  himself  to  her  ban- 
ner ;  the  wisest  spake  her  praises  by  the  council-fires 
of  his  tribe ;  the  bravest  crowned  his  dusky  forehead 
with  the  grains  of  her  rosary.  Mary  of  the  Incarna- 
tion could  coimt  two  hundred  redskins  in  her  schools ; 
Marguerite  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  saw  them  de- 
voted sisters  of  her  order.  In  their  country  the  mis- 
sionary placed  his  headquarters,  St.  Mary's  on  the 
Matehedush  or  Wye.  *'  There,  at  the  humble  house 
dedicated  to  the  Virgin,  in  one  year,  three  thousand 
guests  from  the  cabins  of  the  red-man  received  a  frugal 
welcome." '  And  thence  the  early  Jesuits  went  i'ortli 
to  discovery,  to  spiritual  conquest,  or  to  martyrdom. 
In  the  cabin  of  the  Huron  they  sate  as 'fathers  of  the 
tribe ;  side  by  side  with  the  Huron  they  received  the 
deadly  arrow,  or  felt  the  keen  scalping-knife  of  the 
Ir^qiiois. 

i>ieboeuf  organized  the  mission  in  1634,  and  the 
Fathers  never  left  until  the  Hurons  were  no  more  a 
people,  1650.     They  taught  them  in  the  day  of  peace ; 


■  Bancroft's  Ilirftory  of  the  United  States,  vol.  iii.  I'Zu. 


suffer( 
hope  1 
tion. 
up   in 
securii 
to  tlie 
implac 
appeal] 
ceived 
Hero  tl 
or  inst 
hymns 
had  acq 
became 
many  fl 
ytenetn 
couver 
tism,  ruf 
joy.    Tl 
enemy 
the  Sioi 
thence  t 
to  Poini 
where  a 

Tlie 
blotted 
TJie  first 
Tlicy  set 
changed 
thoir  cal 


IN  North  America, 


105 


suffered  with  them  in  their  misfortunes,  and  gave  them 
hope  beyond  the  grave  for  their  restraint  and  consola- 
tion. The  trinmph  of  the  Iroquois  broke  the  nation 
up  into  five  bands.  The  first  sought  immediate 
security  with  the  Ffench.  The  second  fled  northward 
to  the  ManitouHn  Ishmds,  and,  driven  thence  by  their 
implacable  foeraen,  took  refuge  in  Quebec.  The  third, 
appealing  to  the  generosity  of  the  Mohawks,  were  re- 
ceived by  them  as  brethren  and  adopted  into  the  tribe. 
Here  they  preserved  the  faith,  although  Avithout  priest 
or  instruction.  They  met  in  common  to  chant  the 
hymns  they  had  learned,  and  to  tell  the  beads  they 
had  acquired  before  the  days  of  their  captivity.  They 
became  missionaries  among  their  captors,  and  allured 
many  from  paganism.  Tvnen  the  Fathers  at  length 
penetrated  into  the  Iroquois  cantons,  some  of  these 
couverts,  grown  old  in  the  long-deferred  hope  of  bap- 
tism, rushed  forward  to  meet  them,  and  wept  aloud  for 
joy.  The  fourth  troop  went  to  Mackinac,  where  the 
enemy  followed ;  thence  far  beyond  Lake  Superior  to 
the  Sioux,  who  treated  them  as  ill  as  the  Iroquois; 
thence  to  the  Ottawas,  in  North  Michigan ;  and  then 
to  Point  St.  Ignace,  upon  the  Straits  of  Mackinac, 
where  a  small  remnant  of  them  dwells  to-day. 

The  fifth  joined  the  Eries,  and,  with  them,  were 
blotted  from  existence  by  their  relentless  enemies. 
The  first  alone  reaped  benefit  from  the  national  ruin. 
They  settled  in  Isle  Orleans,  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
changed  its  name  to  St.  Mary's  Isle,  and  here,  amid 
their  cabins,  rose  the  house  of  prayer,  and  the  fixed, 

5* 


108 


.Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


,:t 


thougli  humble,  residence  of  the  missionaiy.     The  Iro- 
quois drove  them  even  from  thti,t,  it  is  true  ;  but,  wLon 
the  Avar  was  over,  they  settled  again  about  four  miles 
off,  and  gave  to  their  new  home  the  name  of  Mission 
of  Oui'   Lady   of  Foie.     Hither   the   Belgian  Jesuits 
brought  a  statue  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  sculptured  from 
the  oak  of  that  forest  near  Dinan,  in  which  was  found 
the  miraculous  image  Avhich  bears  the  title  of  Notro 
Dame  do  Foie  in  Europe.     But  their  need  of  the  chase 
drew  them  nearer  to  the  woods,  and  a  league  further 
brought  them  to  a  place  wherein  they  hoped  at  length 
to  rest.     The  cabins  Avere  arranged  in  the  form  of  a 
square,   and  in  the   midst   of  them   the  church  v/as 
placed  supereminent,  dominating  all  the  village  witli 
its  cross  as  in  perj^etual  benediction.      To   this  tlio 
missionary,  Chaumonot,  added  a  chapel  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  in   size   and  form,  material   and  furniture,  a 
copy  of  the  Holy  House  of  Loretto,  wherein  our  Lord 
was  born.     This  became  the  holy  place  of  the  Indians. 
The  Iroquoiy  convert  found  a  home  here,  side  by  side 
with  his  ancient  Huron  victim.     The '  Hurons  them- 
selves grew  in  lioliness  and  all  primitive  virtues ;  and 
their  brethren  in  far  exile  were  wont  to  j  lake  pilgrim- 
ages hithe.'ward,  bringing  ofie rings  of  furs  and  balm, 
from  the  distant  west,  to  the  feet  of  the  Virgin  Im- 
maculate.    Another  and  final  removal  to  a  very  short 
distance  took  place  long  after.     They  called  the  settle- 
ment the  New  Loretto,'  and  there,  to-day,  are  gathered 

'  Notes  to  BroBsaiii's  llelatiou,  309-318. 


^1 


the  fast- 
nation. 
the  Hare 
Our  Lad_; 
Tlie  Cr 
the  Ciiip] 
was  cnUeci 
cat]ic(h'al 
the  leaping 
sJiorc  of  t] 
the  beauti 
Holy  GJio; 
taught  a  CJ 
Ave  Maria, 
aud  Ottawa 
the  recesscf 
gcnth  IlJin 
years,  Alhm 
regions  froi 
fyiug  tJie  si 
or  tlirough 
no  broad  b] 
the  unwhol 
cessautlj' ; 
ment,  to  slJ 
and  alwaysl 
^I'lnd,  or  ral 
told  it  up 


IN  North  America. 


107 


the  fast-fading  remnants  of  the  once  grand  Huron 
nation.  What  was  once  the  site  of  the  Old  Loretto  of 
the  Hurons  is  now  the  parish  of  the  Annunciation  of 
Our  Lady. 

The  Cross  went  northward,  and  was  phanted  among 
the  Chippewas  of  Lake  Superior,  The  mission-house 
was  called  by  the  name  of  Mttvy,  a)id  stood  where  the 
cathedral  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  now  shadows 
the  loai)ing  waters  of  the  Saut.  Then  along  the  south 
shore  of  the  same  great  water,  Father  Allouez  carried 
the  beautiful  devotion,  founded  the  mission  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  at  the  very  extremity  of  the  lake,  and 
taught  a  Chippewa  choir  to  chant  the  Pater  and  the 
Ave  Maria.'  And  here  he  met  the  scattei'ed  Hurons 
and  Ottawas,  the  sun-worshipping  Pottowattomie  from 
the  recesses  of  Lake  Michigan,  the  Sac  and  Fox,  the 
gentle  Illinois,  and  the  proud  warrior  Dacota.  For 
years,  Allouez,  Dablon,  Marquette  evangelized  the  vast 
regions  from  Green  Bay  to  the  head  of  Superior,  "  de- 
fying the  severity  of  climates,  wading  through  water 
or  through  snows,  without  the  comfort  of  fire,  having 
no  bread  but  pounded  maize,  and  often  no  food  but 
the  unwholesome  moss  from  the  rocks  ;  laboring  in- 
cessantly ;  exposed  to  live,  as  it  Avere,  without  nourish- 
ment, to  sleej)  without  a  resting-place,  to  travel  far, 
and  always  incurring  perils ;  to  carry  his  life  in  his 
hand,  or  ratlior  daily,  and  oftener  than  every  day,  to 
hold  it  up  as  a  target,  expecting  captivity,  death  from 


'  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States,  iii,  150. 


108 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


the  tomahawk,  tortures,  fire." '  So  to  the  Fox  River, 
to  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  to  the  tribes  of  the  Kickapoo, 
the  Mascoutin,  and  the  Miami,  the  devoted  servant  of 
Mary  i^rochiimed  her  beautiful  name. 

The  Mission  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  among 
the  Illinois  was  the  most  prosperous,  although  not 
without  its  checks.  In  a  foray  of  the  Kickapoos 
the  Recollect  Rigourde  was  slain,  and  his  colleague, 
Membre,  put  to  flight.  Allouez,  the  "  Apostle  of  the 
West,"  labored  long,  and  then  retired  to  Isle  St. 
Joseph  to  die.  But,  as  in  later  times,  with  other 
races,  some  of  the  red  men  were  willing  to  adopt 
Christianity  only  on  condition  that  it  should  not  inter- 
fere with  their  passions.  The  chief  of  the  Kaskaskias 
called  himself  a  Christian,  and  professed  great  re- 
spect for  the  missionary,  but  he  lost  it  in  this  way. 
The  light  of  his  lodge  was  his  daughter  Mary, 
brought  up  from  childhood  in  the  faith,  whijli  had 
found  congenial  soil  in  her  innocent  heart.  Mary  had 
heard  of  the  virgin  spouses  of  Christ,  and  longed 
always  to  be  such  as  they  were.  Besides,  she  desired 
to  belong  altogether  to  that  dear,  spotless  Mother  of 
Purity,  whose  name  she  had  leceived  in  baptism.  But 
a  Frenchman,  named  Ako,  rich  for  the  place  and  time, 
but  dissolute  and  reckless,  demanded  her  hand,  and 
her  father  determined  to  give  it  him. 

Mary  prayed  earnestly  to  be  left  as  she  was ;  she 
told  her  father  that  she  had  given  her  heart  to  God, 


«  Bancroit's  Hibtory  of  the  United  States,  iii.  153. 


and  ( 

forced 

Fathe; 

and  w; 

necess, 

left  th( 

turned 

the  oth 

hibited 

comma] 

but  Akc 

missed 

totterinj 

remaine 

enough 

The  cr( 

closed, 

herself 

her  fathi 

her  hanJ 

claimed  I 

model 

saerisiuj 

village 

fluencec 

assembll 

them  U 

Refuge 

Froml 
drew  hel 


IN  North  America. 


109 


and  could  not  religiously  marry ;  but  the  old  chief 
forced  her  to  the  chapel.  At  the  very  altar  she  told 
Father  Gravier  of  her  earnest  dislike  to  the  marriage, 
aud  was  instructed  by  him  that  her  free  consent  was 
necessary.  This  she  refused  to  give,  and  the  party 
left  the  chapel.  But  her  dusky  sire  stripped  her  and 
turned  her  from  his  lodge.  More  than  this,  he  won 
the  other  chiefs  to  his  side,  and  the  "  Prayer"  was  pro- 
hibited in  the  village.  Gravier  appealed  to  the  French 
commandant,  one  of  the  adventurer  La  Salle's  posting, 
hut  Ako  had  been  there  before  him,  and  he  was  dis- 
missed with  blame  and  reproach.  The  mission  was 
tottering  to  its  fall.  Fifty  Peorias  and  Kaskaskias 
remained  faithful,  but  their  opposition  was  only  strong 
enough  to  irritate,  not  to  resist,  the  party  of  the  chief. 
The  cross  would  soon  be  broken  down,  the  chapel 
closed,  the  pastor  driven  away.  Then  Mary  offered 
herself  in  sacrifice  for  the  good  of  her  tribe,  and,  on 
her  father's  promise  to  restore  the  mission,  she  gave 
her  hand  to  Ako.  Her  virtues  and  her  gentleness  re- 
claimed the  dissolute  Frenchman,  aud  he  became  a 
model  of  penitence.  The  old  chief  made  himself  a 
sacrisLu..,  and  morn  and  evening  he  went  through  the 
village  calling  his  people  to  prayer.  His  wife  in- 
fluenced the  women,  as  he  did  the  warriors  ;  aud  Mary 
assembled  the  children  daily  in  her  house,  and  taught 
them  to  invoke,  by  prayer  and  hymn,  the  benign 
Refuge  of  Sinners. 

From  this  source  was  it  that  the  good  Indian  woman 
drew  her  consolation  and  strength.     "  I  call  her  only 


110 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Mother,"  she  was  wont  to  say  of  the  Blessed  Mother 
of  her  Lord.  "  I  beg  her,  with  all  the  terms  of  eudear- 
ment  that  I  know,  to  accept  me  as  her  child.  If  she 
accept  me  not  as  daughter,  if  she  will  not  be  my 
mother,  what  can  I  do  ?  I  am  but  a  cluld,  and  know 
not  how  to  pray.  I  beg  her  to  teach  me  how  to  pray, 
how  to  defend  myself  against  the  evil  one,  who  attacks 
me  ceaselessl}-,  and  will  effect  my  fall  unless  I  have 
recourse  to  licr,  imless  she  shelter  me  in  her  arms,  as 
a  gentle  motlier  does  a  frightened  child." '  This  was 
an  Illiijois  Christian  woman  two  hundred  years  ago. 

I  know  of  no  country  in  which  the  influence  and  in- 
terference— so  to  speak  of  the  Blessed  Mother  of  God 
— is  so  evident  as  in  this  country.  Here,  now,  in  Illi- 
nois, as  the  first  Jesuits  disappear,  the  Priests  of  the 
Foreign  Mission  take  their  place,  and  the  Priests  of 
the  Foreign  Mission  were  originated  in  a  sodality  of 
the  Bl(>ssed  Vu'gin  in  Paris.  These  carried  the  be- 
loved name  to  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  the  St. 
Josejjh's.  The  number  of  converts  among  the  Illinois 
grew  rapidly,  and  embraced  the  noblest  and  best  of 
the  tribe.  So  changed  was  an  Indian  village  now,  that 
the  French  settlers  preferred  to  choose  their  wives 
from  its  maidens.  At  home,  the  tribe  was  punctual  at 
the  chapel ;  when  they  went  to  their  hunting-grounds, 
they  would  meet  every  night  and  chant — for  that  was 
their  way — in  alternate  choirs,  the  Bosary  of  Oui 
Lady. 


'  Sliea's  Indian  Missions,  417. 


IN  North  America. 


Ill 


iH, 


There  was  no  priest  at  Peoria  since  the  death  of 
Father  Gravier,  slain  there  by  the  hiHuenco  of  tlie 
me(li(!ino-men  or  prophets.  But  the  grand  chief  woro 
a  crucifix  upon  his  breast,  which  he  revered  with  sin- 
cere piety,  and  a  medal  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  He 
had  found  this  somoAvhere,  and  had  carried  it  to  better 
instructed  Christians  to  learn  Avhat  it  was.  They  told 
liirn  that  it  represented  the  Virgin  Mother  of  God  ; 
that  the  little  Infant,  whom  he  saw  in  her  arms,  was 
the  Bedeenier  of  the  Avorld,  and  that  her  especial  title 
was  Mary  the  H«'lp  of  Christians.  He  received  this 
lesson  into  a  faithful  heart,  and  he  wore  his  medal 
with  confidence  in  her  whose  image  was  embossed 
upon  its  siirface.  One  day,  walking  with  his  gun  un- 
loaded, he  espied  a  Fox  Indian  lurking  in  a  thicket, 
and  saw  that  the  musket  of  the  savage  was  levelled  at 
his  heart.  Then  he  cried  to  Mary  Help  of  Christians, 
and  she  heard  him.  Five  times  in  succession  the  gun 
of  the  Fox  missed  fire.  Before  he  could  aim  a  sixth 
time,  the  piece  of  the  Peoria  chief  was  charged  and 
levelled  in  its  turn.  The  Fox  surrendered,  threw  down 
his  gun,  and  the  votary  of  Mary  led  him  triumphantly 
to  his  lodge.  It  was  to  Father  de  Charlevoix  that  he 
told  the  story,  when  he  brouglit  his  little  daughter  for 
baptism  to  that  clergyman.'  What  most  charmed  the 
later  missionaries,  when  they  came  among  these  In- 
dians for  the  first  time,  was  their  peculiar,  grave,  alter- 
nate chant  for  tlie  Rosary. 


>  Shea's  Missions,  p.  428. 


112 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


These  Illinois  chanters  of  the  Ave  Maria  had  been 
even  to  tin  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  to  the  new 
French  settlements,  chaiilct  in  haml,  and  the  by  no 
means  too  pions  Europeans  there  looked  admiringly, 
and,  peihaps,  self-reproachfully,  at  these  swarthy  war- 
riors, who  had  not  left  their  religion  behind  them  in 
the  far-oil'  lodges  of  their  tribe.  Indeed,  a  praj^er  to 
Mary  Immaculate  was  not  new  there,  for  de  Soto's 
exj^edition  in  1539  had  been  accompanied  by  twenty- 
two  ecclesiastics.  The  Salue  lieglna  had  floated  over 
the  waters  of  the  mighty  father  of  streams,  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Red  River  to  the  ocean,  and  the  infidel 
Mobihan,  in  the  wilds  of  Alabama,  had  listened  with 
wonder  to  the  chant  of  the  Litany  of  Loretto,  Membre 
told  the  pure  Name  to  the  swarthy  Arkansas ;  Mon- 
tigny  to  the  Ta?nsas  on  Eed  liiver;  St.  Come  laid 
down  his  life  to  honor  it,  amid  the  tosvns  of  the  fire- 
worshipping  Natchez ;  Foucault,  du  Poisson,  and  Louel 
shed  their  blood  while  proclaiming  it  among  the  Choc- 
taws  and  the  fierce  Yazoos.  "When  Iberville  came 
from  France,  to  meet  the  Acadian  and  the  Frenchman 
descending  from  i-he  Canadas,  he  called  the  islands  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  Chaddeleur,^  in  honor  of 
our  Blessed  Lady's  Purification  ;  and  soon  we  find 
within  the  stockade  of  New  Orleans  the  hospital  sister 
(1705),  the  monks  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  of  Mount 
Carmcl  (1722),  and  those  devoted  jnoneers  of  educa- 


>  The  French  Festival  de  la  Chandeleur  answers  to  our  old  English 
(Jandlemass,  or  Feast  of  the  Purification. 


IN  North  America. 


113 


tion,  the  daughtera  of  St.  Ursula.  Tliiia,  then,  from 
its  head-waters  to  the  ocean,  had  the  devotion  to  Mary 
followed  the  tides  of  the  Mississippi ;  and  on  both 
sides  of  the  stream  it  had  been  planted,  and  its  roots 
had  taken  iirm  hold,  and  had  spread  widely.  We  shall 
soon  see  their  bloom. 

But  we  must  now  return,  where  indeed  we  find  the 
throbbing  heart  of  this  devotion,  to  the  city  of  Mary 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  Ville-Marie.  There,  while  all 
others  were  contributing  to  the  honor  of  their  sacred 
patroness,  their  safety  was  watched  over  by  the  guard 
of  de  Maisonneuve ;  for  this  gentleman  had  enrolled 
fi'om  among  the  soldiers  sixty-three  volunteers,  all 
specially  vowed  to  defend  the  town  of  Our  Lady,  out 
of  peculiar  devotion  to  her.  The  number  was  sug- 
gested by  the  years  of  her  blessed  life  on  earth  ;  and 
these  veterans  of  old  France  formed  thus,  in  the  forests 
of  America,  a  sort  of  military  confraternity.  Tht^y  met 
daily  for  the  recital  of  the  Rosary ;  they  wore  the 
medal  of  their  order  as  a  military  decoration ;  the 
approached  the  holy  sacraments  on  all  the  feasts  of 
the  Virgin ;  and  be  sure  that  for  all  this  they  were  the 
first  to  confront  the  cannon  of  the  English,  or  to  an- 
swer, with  their  battle-cry  of  Ace  Purisniiiia,  the  ^^ir- 
whoop  of  the  sanguinary  L'oquois. 

So,  too,  when  their  chief  enrolls  the  inhabitants  into  a 
militia,  it  is  "  attendu  que  cette  isle  appartient  a  la  Sainte 
Vkrge — because  this  island  belongs  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin."  And  those  who  are  forward  in  the  service 
are  to  have  their  names  publicly  recorded  "  as  a  mark 

H 


m 


Dr.voTioN  TO  THK  H.  Y.  TNIauy 


of  honor,  IIS  linvinf;  ('X|>os(>(l  Uioir  livoH  for  tlio  intoroHta 
of  Oiir  Lmlv  Miitl  (lie  pulilic  wcmI.'" 

Ami  (lie  iiiiit;ilioii  itf  I\l;uv  in  Iht  Yisiljifioii  to  Siiiiit 
Eli/;il>t'(li  s|irc,t(l  fast  mikI  w'uU\  l\w  (lislinclivc  iiistitu- 
iiidi  (if  Norlhciii  |''iTii('li  Aiiiciicji.  II  was  lliis  fcslival 
iliat  iMarj^iicrilt'  IJoiir^t'oys  had  clioscn  foe  (lie  |tatroiijil 


holi.l: 


IV  of  lici-  iiislitiitioii. 


'rii(«  A'isil  of  Our  J.adv 


sill'  used  l'>  sa\   to  her  sistcis,  "  was  tlii'  occasion  of  tlus 


greatest  of  iiiiraclt>s,  tlic  \ 


)urilicutioii  of  Saint  Joliii  tlio 


]>a|)tist  from  (n'i<4'inal  y'\u  ;  his  sanctilication  ami  that 
of  his  faniilv.  '["aiic  that  thoiij^dit  with  yon,  sistci-s,  in 
all  y(»nr  missions.  Imitate  Alary  in  the  sanctilication 
of  children."  Swift  and  steadfast  the  j^ood  woik 
ect'l»>siaslics  wioti*  to  their  friends  in  Fi'ance ; 


spreat 


*I>r 


colonial  ollicers  i'(>ported  to  the  homi>  {^'overnnient ;  tho 


soldiiM'  dctaileil  to  his  ancient  comi'ade  11 


le  niarv( 


Is  of 


Mirgiu'rite's  institnlion.  'J'heir  missions  nndliplied 
from  Isle  Orleans  to  (^hu'liec.  Ni)t  only  did  they  fol- 
low their  vocation  in  their  schools,  but  in  what  was 
called  the  ()ut<>i'  (\)n<!;re'ration,  which  was  devt)ti'd  to 


gvown-iip  gir 


This  was  of  incalculable  benefit,  not 


only  in  eorrei'ting  mor;  Is  anil  manni'rs  that  were  de- 
fective, but  in  implanting  the  principles  of  purity  and 
zealous  [)ractice  of  religion.  On  Sundays  and  festivals 
the  sisters  Avere  wont  to  gatlx'r  the  nnudens  of  tho 
neigidiorhood  to  instruct  them  in  tho  faith  and  in  thoir 
duties  for   this   life.     Then  tlicy  would  lead  them  in 


'  SJpnioircs  ot  di)cumpnts  publico  par  la  Socit'tu  Historiiiuc  de  Mon- 
trral.    1800,  vol.  iii.,  p.  lo4. 


bo  foi 

Any 

swee 

tho 

hour] 

her  E 

liavo 

Jiniiio 

Lady' 

Olio  () 

annivt 
that 
as  on^ 

'  Vto\ 
for  "  ihd 
1«53. 


IN  Noll  Til  Amkuica. 


115 


TiitHMission  to  tlid  cliui'di,  iiiul  wiitcili  tlnit  ilicir  dcport- 
iiusnt  llici'n  hcCiltt'd  cliildrciii  of  Miiry,  aiid  scrvfUilH  of 
tho  Ji.iinl)  willioiit  spot. 

" 'riicii,"  siiys  (UK!  of  tho  bio^ruplicrs  of  Ariifj^'iicrito 

'*tli(Mi  did   ])i(>ty,  religion,  and   modest}'  sin'cccd  to 

l(>vity  iuid  iiidovotioii ;  mid  not  only  wiu-o  nil  ini[ii()V(!d, 
lull  []\v  licuris  of  nijiny,  IoijcIuhI  l)y  i\u'  lessons  iind 
exiunple  of  tlieir  Huinily  instriu^tors,  ^rew  dis^'usted 
willi  the  world,  und  they  (ionscuM'Jited  tliemselves  to 
(Jod  ill  the  Con^re^iition  of  Our  Lady.'"  IMur^ucrito 
Hved  to  see  no  hiSS  than  (^i;j;ht  of  tlu^se  missions 
scieiirely  founded  and  pros[)erons  in  well-doiii-^ ;  a  few 
years  after,  they  had  increased  to  tliirty-tlire**,  and 
now  they  form  an  ospe(!ial  {^dory  of  (!ana(h'i,  and  are  to 
he  found  in  ono  dioeeso  at  least  of  th(!  United  Stat(!S. 
Anywhere  in  th(!ir  mission  you  may  s(!e  them  patiently, 
swe(!lly,  perseveringly  busicnl  in  tlwir  Iteaiilifiil  calliiif^, 
tlie  "  sanetilieation  of  chihh'en,"  leading  the  younj^ 
heart,  through  INIary's  maternal  tenderness,  to  C»od, 
her  Eternal  Son.  But  most  edifying  nuist  that  sight 
have  b(Hm  when  they  met  in  their  n(!W  and  present 
home  in  Ville-Mari(%  on  the  Oetavo  of  our  l>l(!ssed 
Lady's  Nativity,  a.  d.  1845,  their  number  lacking  but 
one  of  tho  himdred.  And  still  more  touching  is  that 
anniversary  of  tluiirs,  Avhen  they  assemble  on  the  day 
that  Marguerite  Boui'gcoys  died — not  to  lament  her 
as  one  lost,  but  to  celebrate  with  joy  her  birth  into 


'  From  tilt!  liir<^o  and  very  beautiful  lif'o,  in  two  voUnnoH,  puMisliwi 
for  "  the  Sisters  of  tlie  ('oiigri'gation  of  Notre  Dume."  Villc-Mario, 
1853.    By  Rev.  M.  Fuillon,  fcJt.  SuLpico. 


•   \i 


lie 


DllVOnoN  TO  TIIK  IV  V.  l^r.vuY 


that  lunv  atul  bctliT  l.iiul  wlirn!  Iicr  houI  in  r(Mi|>irip; 
tlio  ivnviirds  of  h(>r  Hcir-HiUfriCuui,  her  liiliors,  juul  Imr 
Hunclity. 

l'\ti-  iiiMiiv  inoiillis  Ix'foni  ilu^  day  comes  round,  tlio 
yonti;j;  };iils  ol"  lli(>  wcaKIiici'  cImssch  coiiscuTate  ilicir 
worlxiii^'-liouis  to  tin*  iiiMkiii}^'  of  a  coiiiplt'lc  out  (it  each 
for  one  of  (lie  |)oor  cliildifii  of  the  outtir  seliools.  And 
on  that  (l;iy  all  asscinhU',  rich  and  [)ooi',  in  tlu^  ]tr('H- 
tMK'e  of  the  };dod  sisters  and  a  coni'ourso  of  friends,  in 
the  ^rand  liail,  ^vllen^  all  the  gifts  are  hiid  at  the  foot 
of  an  iniMi^e  of  IMessed  IMary.  There  stands,  too,  a 
bust  of  Mar}j;ne)'ite,  at  the  feet  of  her  Avhoni  she  1ov<h1 
so  truly  anil  followed  so  di-voutly  ;  and  then^,  after  tho 
other  exercises  are  over,  each  child  U^ads  up  her  Uttlo 
protegei>,  lu'esents  for  Mary'w  sako  tho  roll  of  comfort- 
able clothing,  and  adds  something  whertiwith  to  nniko 
a  little  feast  at  home  m  honor  of  Marguerite  and  Haint 
Mary.  And  this  is  the  annual  celebratiou  of  tho 
Daughters  of  Our  Lady  at  Ville-Mario. 

One  mark  of  the  devotion  to  tho  Mother  of  CJod, 
which  still  exists  iu  all  its  pristine  fervor  in  Mcmtroal, 
I  insert  here,  as  belonging  to  the  Congregation  by 
sentiment,  althongh  to  our  own  time  by  date.  It  is  an 
extract  or  two  from  the  pious  dedication  to  tho  life  of 
Marguerite  Bourgeoys,  to  which  I  am  indebted  for  so 
many  beautiful  facts.'     Tho  dedication  is — 


•  Let  1110  tlmnk,  Iutc,  for  tho  loan  of  this  book,  as  woll  as  for  the 
Lift)  of  JladcmoisoUo  Lobor,  tlio  kiud  courtesy  of  tho  lion.  Thoinaa 
P'Arcy  McUee,  M.  P.  P.  for  Montreal. 


IN  Noiirn  A^rERioA- 


117 


"To  TirR  MoHT  TIoriY  ViitoiN— Q^ken  of  AroHTr.Ks," 

and  it  bcf^'iiiH— 

"  IMcsHcd  ViiK'".  I  "^"»  inoHt  liiiitpy  to  rcoount  lioro 
tlio  toiu'liiii}^  <>lV(^(!l,s  of  your  lovo  for  tlm  Sistur  Uour- 
gdoys,  Avlio  o\V(!(l  to  you,  iiftcu'  (lod,  uU  tluit  r<!iid(!r(id 
li(!r  HO  vciKU'ublo  to  tlu)  colony  of  Moiitrcjd.  Her  vir- 
tues iiiid  lior  liihorH  aro  your  woik.  lUv  bio;^fru[)liy  iH 
tlio  history  of  your  lovo  for  her,  or  rutlicr,  tlici  muni- 
fcsiiiiioii  of  your  (ispociid  prcdil  'ction  for  your  bcloviul 
city,  on  wlii(!li  you  luivo  doiguod  to  b(!stow  so  riiro  nn 
instniniont  of  your  choicest  favors.  13y  this  privih^gcd 
Houl  you  (h'sircd  to  naunv  and  to  niuko  felt  in  tliis 
riHiuf^  colony  tho  effects  of  your  grace.  You  made  to 
licr  an  ahundant  coinnuuiication  of  your  H})irit,  and 
rendered  her  a  living  image  of  your  own  apostolic 
zeal ;  so  that,  "Oiling  your  power  beneath  her  form, 
you  gained  as  many  hearts  for  God  as  she  attracted 
by  the  fervor  of  lu^r  prayers,  by  tjio  force  of  her  words, 
and  by  tho  eilicacy  of  her  examiile.  ]3e  blessed  then, 
for  this  sweet  discovery  of  your  love. 

"  Be  blessed  anew  for  having  willed  to  perpetuate  so 
gioat  a  benefit  in  this  colony  by  tho  cstablislimeut  of 
the  congregation  which  justly  recogni/cs  you  as  its 
foundress,  its  instructress,  its  superior,  and  its  Queen. 
She  who  originated  it  was  but  an  instrument  in  your 
bauds.  It  was  formed  by  a  diffusion  of  your  spirit, 
extending  from  her  through  all  the  members  of  this 
body  to  give  them  life  ;  by  your  love  it  has  grown  ;  by 
your  care  and  maternal  solicitude  it  has  been  main- 


«l 


118 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


tained  until  to-day.  If  you  are  Mother  of  all  saintly 
communities,  by  the  participation  in  His  foecundity 
which  Gc'd  the  Father  gave  you  in  the  adorable  mys- 
ter)'  of  the  Incarnation,  you  are  so  in  an  especial  sense 
of  this  instiiute,  which  has  received  from  you  all  that 
it  has,  and  is,  by  you,  all  tliAt  it  is.  Deign  to  protect 
it  forever,  and  always  to  renew  that  primitive  spirit  of 
fervor  and  zeal  which  you  gave  it  so  abundantly  at  the 
beginning.  Cause  all  who  read  this  book  to  reap  edi- 
fication from  its  pages ;  to  be  drawn  to  imitate  the  vir- 
tues of  your  faithful  servant — abov^.  all,  her  sincere  and 
tender  filial  love  for  you.  And  mav  they,  by  this  read- 
ing, learn  how  consoling  is  that  truth,  that  he  loho  hos 
found  you  has  found  life '  in  you,  the  Life  which  is  Jesus, 
from  whom  by  you  he  may  attain  everlasting  salvation." 

Such,  then,  for  two  centuries,  has  been  the  ardent 
feeling  in  Montreal  for  the  Lady  of  their  city.  And  it 
is  by  reciting  such  things  as  these  that  we  reveal  to 
you  the  secret  springs  of  devotion  to  Saint  Mary  in 
North  America. 

Although  the  history  of  the  famous  church  of  Our 
Lady  of  Good  Help,  and  of  the  chapel  of  Our  Lady  of 
Victory,"  belong  to  the  history  of  the  Congregation, 
yet  we  reserve  them  for  another  place,  and  end  this 
chapter  with  the  beautiful  episode  of  MademoisclJe 
Jeanne  lo  Ber.' 


'  ProverljH,  viii.  yS. 

'•'  Notre  JJtiine  de  Bon-Mcours  aud  Notre  Dame  de  Ir-  VirtiAre. 

'  L'Hi'roine  Cliretienne  da  Canada,  on  la  Vio  de  !  ladi'mui«elle  le 
Ber,  Ville-Mario,  cliez  les  bceura  de  la  ('ongregation  du  Nutre  Dame. 
1860.    lyM.  FuiUon. 


:' 


IN  NOKTU   iVarERICA. 


119 


Among  all  who  loved  Marguerite  Bourgeoj-s — and 
who  did  not  love  and  revere  her? — none  was  more 
eminent  than  this  lady.  Daughter  of  the  wealthiest 
merchant  in  Frtmeli  America,  she  had  every  tliiiig  at 
her  command  tliat  could  make  the  world  inviting  ;  an 
(if^teemed  pupil  of  the  pious  Ursulines,  tlu;  religious 
i)rders  would  have  thought  her  an  acqu'sition,  but  her 
vocation  made  her  turn  from  both,  and  she  Avent  to 
(lwe]l  alone  in  prayer,  and  work,  and  meditation  with 
God.  It  is  not  our  purpose  to  follow  her  life,  l)ut  only 
to  look  at  it  as  a  devotion  to  Mary.  It  was  love  for 
this  Blessed  Mother  that  dreAv  her  so  surely  and  at- 
tached her  so  ardently  to  the  Congregation.  "  Row 
happy  your  lot,"  she  used  to  say  to  a  cousin  of  hers  m 
tlie  sisterhood,  "to  be  numbered  among  the  daugl iters 
of  Mary!  Learn  well  the  excellence  of  your  good  lor- 
tuiie  in  this,  and  all  the  extent  of  your  obligations. 
You  must  be  perfectly  free  from  the  maxims  of  the 
wt)rld  and  from  all  carnal  inclinations.  She  who  wears 
the  livery  of  the  most  holy  Yirgin  must  care  for  naught 
else.'"  Faitliful  to  this  predilection,  when  the  time 
had  come  at  last  to  r(3tire,  it  was  with  the  Congrega- 
tion of  Notre  Dame  that  she  sou'dit  seclusion.     The 

O 

inniunliate  t;ause  was  the  holy  deatji  of  a  young  sister 
dl"  tliat  society,  whom  she  tenderly  loved,  and  whose 
death-scene  was  of  sucli  beaiitj',  and  hopefulness,  iind 
peace,  that  it  liroke  what  little  tie  there  was  to  bind 
her  to  the  world.     She  exclaimed  in  her  heart,  with 


"  Life,"  p.  2U. 


120 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


I* 


the  Syrian  prophet,  "  Let  my  soul  die  the  death  of  the 
just,  and  may  my  hxst  end  be  h'ko  theirs." '  She  de- 
termined upon  absohite  seckision,  but  it  was  exacted 
from  ]ier  that  slie  should  undergo  a  novitiate,  as  it 
were,  of  five  years  in  the  house  of  her  fatlior.  This 
ended,  lier  mother's  death,  meanwhile,  giving  new 
strengtli  to  her  purpose,  she  retired  to  the  church  of 
the  Co]igr(>gation,  wliieh  she  had  largely  aided  from 
her  abundant  means. 

Here,  in  a  little  cell  behind  tlie  altar,  dwelt  this  de- 
voted recluse,  the  cell  modelled  upon  the  Sanfr  Com  inn 
or  sacred  cliambcr  of  the  Hoh'  House  of  Loretto ;  so 
that  in  this  she  might  he  perpetually,  as  it  were,  under 
one  roof  with  the  Mother  of  the  Incarnate  Word. 
Here,  with  her  rosary,  her  little  office  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  and  h.er  utensils  for  embroidering— for  she 
proposed  no  idleness — she  was  at  length  inclosed, 
after  vespers  on  the  Feast  of  Our  Lady  o^  the  Snows, 
August  5  1G95,  to  go  no  more  out  forevcn .  Here  she 
dwelt  for  .\ineteen  years  in  prayer,  in  moaual  labor  for 
the  altar,  in  meditation,  and  in  adoration  of  the  thrice 
holv  Sacrament. 

To  aid  her  in  obtaining  the  inner  union  whicli  she 
sought  with  the  perfect  dispositions  imprinted  by  the 
Holy  S}iirit  on  the  heart  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  she 
ke])t  continually  before  her  eyes,  upon  the  Avails  <jf  her 
cell,  two  pious  pictures.     The  first  was  call<>d  the  "  in- 


tcrio 
amor 
upon 
hovei 


wnigs 


'  Moriiitur  nniiria  moa   niortc  jiistovum  et   fiuul   novb^sima  men 
boruui  aimilia. — Numbers,  xsJii.  10. 


m 


iiliiav' ''**"■ 


IN  North  America. 


121 


tcrior  life  of  Mary."  There  you  saw  the  Blossccl 
among  womoii  enthroned  on  clouds,  the  hands  crossed 
upon  her  immaculate  bosom,  Avhilo  the  sacred  Dove, 
hovering  over  her,  seemed  to  pour  from  his  spotless 
wings  His  sevenfold  grace.  The  eyes  of  Our  Lady, 
raised  to  heaven,  Avere  fixed  upon  the  sacred  niono- 
gi'am,  T.  H.  S. — Jesxs  homimnn  Sah'afcr.  This  showed 
that  if  the  Holy  Spirit  were  the  source  of  Mary's 
actions,  Jesus  and  the  salvation  of  souls  was  their  end 
and  aim.  Below  the  print,  you  read :  "  With  i\f(iry. 
liij  Jfary.  In  Man/."  This  was  Sister  le  Ber's — for 
such  was  her  title  henceforward — this  was  her  object 
now  ;  sought  steadily  in  prayer,  at  holy  Mass,  in  her 
comumnions  and  other  pious  exercises,  in  labor,  in  her 
poor  repasts,  to  unite  herself  by  faith  and  love  to  the 
interior  dispositions  of  Mary ;  and  earnestly  she  be- 
sought that  sacred  ind  tender  Mother  to  be  with  her 
spirit,  her  heart,  and  all  her  faculties  ;  to  be  the  model 
of  her  actions  and  the  soul  of  her  soul ;  to  penetrate 
and  fill  her  mind,  to  possess  it  altogether,  until  she 
should  become  a  simple  instrument  Avherewith  the 
Mother  might  deign  to  glorify  her  Divine  Sou." 

The  other  print  represented  the  same  good  Mother 
receiving  into  her  arms  and  lovingly  supporting  a 
Christian  soul,  which,  languishing  in  this  condition  of 
exile,  seemed  to  find  all  its  joy  and  repose  in  Mary. 
The  Sulpicians  celebrated  the  feast  of  this  interior  life 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  on  the  nineteenth  of  October, 


Life  of  Mademoiselle  le  Ber,  p.  211. 
6 


!! 


122 


'Devotion  to  the  B.  Y.  Mary 


and  for  tlio  pious  rccluso  it  was  a  day  of  particiilar 
devotion.  And,  still  more  to  honor  it,  ?von  by  tlio 
works  of  licr  Lands,  die  niado>  a  superb  vestuiout  for 
tlie  feasts  of  i'oo  Inimaeulate  Queen,  and  in  the  centre 
of  the  '^voss  sle  embroidered  most  eunniu^ly  the  pic- 
ture first  uescribed.  How  all  this  love  was  answered 
and  increased,  we  shall  see  in  the  notes  of  the  eliapels 
and  churches  connected  with  the  Congregation.  She 
never  wearied  in  her  benefits  to  this  "  family  of  Mary," 
as  she  called  it.  Her  means  liad  greatly  aided  the 
building  of  their  church ;  slie  furnished  the;  richest 
vases  and  ornaments  U>r  the  alt.-ir;  slu;  founded  there 
the  Perpetual  Adoration  of  the  ]Most  Holy  Sacrament, 
Mild  endowed  a  daily  Mass;  and  more,  to  maintain, 
out  of  filial  love  and  tender  devoiion  to  S.-unt  Marv,  au 
iiislitute  so  distinctly  her  own,  she  gave  them  ten  tliou- 
sand  livres  '  for  the  good  friendship  that  slie  bejirs  to 
the  Sisters  of  tlio  Congr<\gation  of  Our  Lady," '  tlio 
o)dy  •condition  lining  that  ilio.  revenue  shall  be  applied 
to  their  uses  in  Yille-Marie  alone. 

Glad  enough,  we  may  be  sure,  was  the  heart  of 
Sister  Marguerite  to  have  such  a  guest  within  tlio 
walls  of  her  house.  At  thc^  time  of  her  coming  there 
were  other  guests  there  also.  The  Hospital  Sistei-s 
had  been  burned  out,  and  had  found  affectionate  wel- 
come from  the  humble  Daughters  of  Our  Lady.  "We 
have  now,"  says  Marguerite  Bourgeoys,  "  in  our  house 


»  "  Pour  la  bonne  amiti i'  qu'ellc  porte  anx  Soeurs  de  la  Congregation 
de  Notre  Dame."    Words  of  the  deed  of  donation. 


IN  North  America. 


123 


the  tlirco  estates  of  women  whom  orr  dear  Lord  left 
on  eartli,  after  His  resurrection,  to  serve  Him  and  His 
Church :  like  Magdalen,  by  solitary  life ;  like  Martha, 
by  active  life  in  the  cloister  ;  like  the  most  hoi}'  Virgin, 
by  an  uncloistered  life  of  zeal"*  There  lived,  then, 
the  recluse,  so  busied  with  her  needle,  that  she  fur- 
nished all  the  parishes  of  Montreal  with  chasubles, 
altar  fronts,  and  other  ornaments.  They  still  preserve 
in  the  parish  church  of  the  city  a  cope,  chasuble,  and 
dalmatics,  richly  embroidered  on  cloth  of  silver  by  her 
nimble  fingers.  Towards  herself  she  showed  an  ex- 
treme parsimony,  making  her  poor  woollen  robe  and 
coarse  shoes  last  for  years  by  mending  them  repeatedly 
herself;  f(n'  of  all  her  large  revenues,  what  was  left 
from  her  gifts  to  the  altar,  she  scrupiilously  gave  to 
the  poor.  She  knew  the  Psalms  and  the  New  Testa- 
ment almost  entirely  by  lieart.  They  Avere  her  books 
of  predilection.  But,  besides  reading  tln^se,  she  re- 
cited daily  the  Litanies  of  the  Saints,  the  OlFice  of  the 
Cross,  the  Rosary,  and  the  Little  Office  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin.  Add  to  these  her  ordinary  prayers,  mental 
and  vocal,  her  adoration  of  the  Sacrament,  the  ofiice 
for  the  dead  three  times  a  week,  her  embroidery,  and 
her  care  for  the  poor,  and  judge  whether  she  had  not 
caught  some  of  the  tireless  spirit  of  zeal  of  her  sacred 
model  and  Mother. 

The  faithful  of  that  day  and  place  believed  that  the 
angels  used  to  help  her.    That  she  did  receive  many  an(? 

*  Vie  de  Mademoiselle  le  Bcr,  p.  229 


iil 


D,VOTIOK  TO  THE  B.  V.  M«t 


m 


^^*  "'"  "  ,  ■  1,  it  is  imi-ossilAo  to  toibt. 

visiUe  graces  ftom  on  lug  .     ^  ^.^^.^.^  ,^^,„  ,e- 

ToueKca  by  Vr  «;:f  °;,^„tion  to  Mavy  in  tho  Holy 
„ou..o«l  the  «ovW  ^]"^''-,  Charon  do  la  Barro, 
ramily.    Joining  «th  1?.'"^^        ,.^  ;„  tonor  of  St. 

L  instituted  t"°/°;^"t  ;1™  ^  »'-l-^  "'  ''• 
Joseph,  and  ^^  J^o  Blessed  Virgin,  on  the  0^0- 
Anne,  the  mother  of  the  1.  ^^^^^^  ,^;^  ^^,to,, 

rite  side  of  the  town  from  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^.„.„  „£  ^t. 
eharel  of  Bon  Secoms     11  ^,,j.    Dying 

Annes,  so  fau.ous  "Y?"fo  h  r  heloved  commnnity  ten 
Wore  his  sister,  ^'>^^^Znm^on  that  there  should 
thousand  hvres,  on  the  so  ^^^^,  ^,^^  „„,„„ 

abvays  be  one  of  the  sr^   -U^o         ^  .^^  ^^^^^    ^ 
„£  Saint  Mary.  anclanoto«>^_^^^^    ^^    ^^^^    ^^^^^ 

^ody  was    buried    ml  Congregation 

„ot  be  divided  even  in  «'«  S'^;^' ^^  j^^,  ^sterhood  to 
Marguerite,  dying,  ha         ^  o  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^  ^„„„ 

increase  the  -^°»'"°'Y'™;,,iae  the  means.    But 
a,DivineProvidenee  should  in  ;  ^^_^,,^.   „. 

thirteen  yei.rs  passed  on,  j^  ^^  ^,^,,.,,.    3.  , 

creasing,  but  the  good  s.»tei^  „  ^^^  _^^^^^.^,^^,,^ 

years,  however,  "-  r7^^^:l\,,at  she  felt  noaven 
heart  of  Jeanne  le  ^-^f'^^l  to  e.ecnto  it.  T-t, 
drawing  nearer,  she  d^te™.'";;\*°  ^^^  Bi„,,„d  Virgin 


IN  North  America. 


125 


off  the  pious  recluse  as  well  as  they  could.  But  they 
wore  used  to  listen  to  her  advice,  and  when  she  said 
that  she  knew  it  was  the  will  of  God,  and  that  the 
angels  would  help  vheni,  they  went  to  work  and  gave 
the  first  orders,  alth  jugh  they  had  n(ntlier  materials 
uor  money.  The  foundation  was  dug,  the  corner-stone 
was  blessed  and  laid  by  M.  do  Belmont,  and  the  new 
house  was  dedicated  to  their  heavenly  superior,  under 
the  title  of  Our  Lady  of  Angels.  This  was  the  inscrip- 
tion on  the  i)late  in  the  corner-stone  : 

"Most  Holy  Virgin,  Queen  of  Angels,  refuge  and 
safety  of  men,  receive  the  prayers  Avhieh  we,  in  full 
confidence,  olTer,  to  obtain  your  blessed  protection  for 
the  commencement,  the  advance,  and  the  com})letion 
of  this  building  which  your  servant  and  our  good 
mother.  Marguerite  Boiirgeoys,  has  charged  us  to  con- 
struct. AVitli  all  our  hearts  we  desire  tliat  it  may 
serve  to  augment  your  honor  and  the  glory  of  your 
Divine  Son.  Do  not,  oh,  Immaculate  Virgin,  over 
permit  mortal  sin  to  enter  in  this  house.  Bid  the  holy 
angels  watch  so  well  over  the  conduct  of  all  who  <lwell 
therein,  that  you  may  be  ever  loved  and  faithfully 
served  as  Our  Lady  and  Our  Queen.     Amen." 

Ask  in  the  country  where  it  stands  to-daj',  and  they 
will  tell  3'ou  that  immortal  hands  worked  at  those 
walls,  and  that  the  masons  looked  with  awe  every 
morning  at  a  progress  to  which  they  had  not  con- 
tributed. Be  that  as  it  may,  the  house  was  finished ; 
and  Jeanne  le  Ber,  gathering  together  her  last  tliivteen 
thousand  livres,   founded  therewith   what  Ave   would 


126 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


now  call  scludavsliips  for  girls  who  merited  educatioiij 
liut  Avlioso  parents  -were  too  poor  to  furnisli  tlic  requi- 
site ineaiiH.  And  this  was  the  last  act  of  nioiuiy-givihg 
charity,  done  in  honor  of  Our  Lady  of  Angels.  It 
Vfts  tiie  day  afttr  the  Feast  of  tins  Blessed  Virgin's 
Nativity,  September  9,  171-1,  that  she  f-'gued  the  deed 
of  this  founcu.tion ;  twenty  four  days  after,  hope  had 
become  realization. 

On  their  own  festival,  the  second  of  Octol  n*,  the 
holy  guardian  ang(^ls  came  for  the  pure  soul  of  the  re- 
cluse, and  she  died  in  i:)rayer  and  love  iis  slie  had 
lived,  resigning  herself  into  the  hands  of  that  blessed 
Mother  whom  on  'arth  rhe  had  served  so  well.  Her 
modest  cell  and  work-room  were  religiously  jireserved, 
and  the  devout  of  Ville-Marie  loved  to  go  pray  at  her 
tomb;  but  the  cell  with  its  furniture,  the  church,  and 
the  house  of  the  Congregation,  were  consumed  In'  tlie 
fire  of  17uS.  Y/hen  the  ebtablislimeut  was  builded 
anew,  a  repository  was  made  on  tlie  site  of  the  cell, 
where  now  remains,  in  His  inefiuble  patience,  the 
Prisoner  of  Love.  Beside  the  grave  of  the  recluse 
stands  the  liiiraculous  statue  of  Our  Lady  of  Pity, 
gracious  sentinel  over  the  ashes  of  her  devoted  child. 
Frequent  recurrence  will  be  made  to  Mademoiselle  le 
Ber  in  ihcse  pages ;  but  now,  for  the  present,  we  leave 
the  edifying  voluufc;3  which  contains  her  biography,  and 
is  dediciited  with  propriety,  To  Mai;::  phesentjid  i:j 
THE  Temi'LE. 


IN  North  AifERiCA. 


127 


CHArTEIl  YI. 


Devm'i>n  of  TiiK  TfoLY  Famu.y— Oi  11  Laijv  of  VicTonv — Ouu  Latiy  o» 

Good  IIki.I' --Oi-k    Ladv   of  tiik   Visitaticn — LoixiK  of  tmk    liiMACu- 

LAiK    <    (IMKITI'N  -Oil!    I-Al'V    ill'    S.NOWS   -C'ATMKDKAL    "F    Till-:     IjUilAOO- 

LATii  Co.Nci.rrioN,  A^D  Chukciii.s  of  Oub  Lauv  ix  t^i  kiieo. 

The  i'u'st  throe  titlos  -urittcn  al)ovo  arc  the  titles  of 
three  most  cuiinent  devotions  in  Cfinjithi.  Dutiiig  back 
'o  the  vcrv  boifIiinin<:rs  of  the  cohrnv,  thev,  rv  at 
least  two  of  theiii,  have  grown  steadily  in  the  altec- 
tions  of  the  Canadian  Catholic  down  to  this  day.  A 
favorit(>  thonie  of  M.  Oliov's  devout  meditation  was  the 
Holy  Family,  Jesus,  IMary,  and  Joseph,  in  the  stable, 
hi  the  humble  hou.sc  at  Nazareth,  or  the  llight  from 
the  murderous  wrath  of  Herod  during  the  long  hidden 
life  of  our  Lord.  As  by  this  sacred  household  it  had 
pleased  tin;  Eternal  Father  to  convey  salv;i,tion  unto 
man,  so  did  M.  Olier  desire  to  secure  its  protection  for 
the  new  France  which  was  growing. up  in  the  snowy 
piue-woods  of  the  scarcely  trodden  AVest.  It  was  in 
Februiiry,  then,  that  this  holy  priest,  assend)ling  the 
Society  of  jM'ontreal  in  the  church  of  Oar  Lady  of 
Palis,  a7id  having  offered  the  eternal  Sacrilice  at  the 
altar  of  the  blessed  Virgin,  consecrated  Monh'eal  and 
its  Vtliole  territoiy  to  Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph,  under 
the  particular  protection  of  Mavy,  tc  whom  the  com- 
pany resigned  forever  the  sovereignty  and  dominion  of 
their  lands. 


128 


Devotion  to  the  B.  'V.  ^lAnv 


As  lie  usimI  to  go  l)cforo,  on  their  journcjH  in  tho 
land  of  falcstino ;  as  he  marched  before  on  the  Aveary 
way  to  Ej^ypt ;  so  now  Hi.  Jt)S{'j>h  was  tho  fu-st  to 
come  amid  th(3  lee-fulds  and  by  tho  rnshin;^'  rivers  of 
Canada.  Ho  (.aino  in  and  with  tho  liospital  sisters  of 
Madonioisollo  IManso,  endowed  by  M.  do  hi  h)auver- 
sioro  expressly  to  honor  tlie  jairo  foster-father  of 
Christ.  Tlien  canio  tho  seminary  priests  of  St.  Sulpice, 
whoso  aim  was,  as  is  tliat  of  tlio  sacred  priesthood  in- 
deed, to  represent  our  Lord  himself,  and  t(j  diiriisii  His 
spirit.  And,  thirdly,  eainn  tho  institute  of  Marguerite 
Bourgeoys,  to  make  the  name  and  thought  of  Mary 
t'evercid  and  loved.  To  none  of  these  three  had  M. 
Oiler  reviaded  this  cherishi'd  idea;  yet,  Avitlujut  their 
own  design,  they  perfectly  accomplished  it.  By  and 
by,  the  time  ciimo  ;  the  Jesuit  Father,  Chaumonot,  pro- 
posed and  took  tho  managenieufc  of  the  scheme  ;  tho 
three  comniuniti(^s  accorded  heartily,  and  the  Confra- 
ternity of  the  Holy  Family  was  established  in  Canad.i. 
The  object  was  to  reach  the  three  estates  of  maidiood, 
womanhood,  and  childhood  ;  to  induce  every  resident 
of  the  laud  to  do  something  towards  an  imitation  of 
those  gr(uit  exemplars  of  human  virtue — the  men  to 
find  theii  model  in  Bt.  Joseph,  tho  women  in  Our 
Lady,  tiu)  children  in  the  gentle  innocence  of  the  In- 
fant Jesus. 

Sister  Marguevito  v^cords  her  signing  of  the  act  of 
foundation,  together  Avitli  Mademoiselle  Manse,  and 
Mother  Mace,  superior  of  the  Hospitalieres ;  "  for," 
says  the  Sister  Mozier,  historian  of  the  Hotel  Dieu 


IN  NoiiTii  America. 


129 


first  Ruporiors  woro  closely  bound  in  lioly  frionJ- 
)  with  IMar^MK^'ito  ]5ourf,'coya  and  h(;r  sistt'is  ;  tlioy 

jre  dauglitors  of  tho  most  lioly  Vir^'in,  wlioni  thoy 
liad  choson  for  niotlKU'  and  jn'otoftross ;  and  wo  daii^qli- 
tcrs  of  St.  JoH('i)]i,  wliicli  makoH  us,  too,  ado[)tcd  chil- 
dren of  tho  same  Holy  Family,'"  Tho  Ih.st  use  to 
which  MarfTuorito  applied  tho  new  scheme  wuh  in  tho 
establishment  of  a  house  for  poor  grown-up  f^irls, 
wherein  they  might  be  taught  some  honest  calling, 
while  their  souls  were  kc^pt  puro  from  the  tciujitutions 
to  which  they  were  exposed.  And  this  was  called  tho 
House  of  rrovidenco  of  the  Holy  Family.  Soon  it  was 
used  for  s J )iritual  retreats;  then  for  the  preparaticm  of 
children  for  their  first  co;amuniou  ;  and  so  incalculablo 
were  the  moral  benefits  produced,  that  royal  procu- 
rours  grew  eloquent  abi:ut  i'.  in  their  letters  to  tlie  king, 
travellers  consecrated  pa^  s  of  their  journals  to  its 
praises,  and  the  Parisian  Father  Souart  used  to  call 
Sister  Marguerite  hi  intUe  Salute  Geiwvivvi:  (In  ('niiathi. 

Mgr.  do  St.  Vallier  desired  such  a  blessing  for  his 
episcopal  city  of  Quel  tec,  and  sister  Marie  Larijier  was 
sent  to  found  it.  From  tho  very  commencenjent,  zeal 
and  fi^rvor  for  a  better  and  holier  life  spread  through- 
out the  city ;  every  day  gave  birth  to  some  new  i)rac- 
tice  in  honor  of  the  Infant  Saviour,  the  Virgin,  or  St. 
Joseph  ;  the  y<jung  girls  in  humbler  life  had  been  over- 
f(  ud  of  dress,  vicing  with  each  other  in  self-ornamenta- 
tion, and,  by  dressing  abpvo  their  class,  had  exposed 


'  Vio  de  Soeur  jMargucrite,  i.  170. 
(J» 


IDO 


Di;vf)TiON  'I'o  THF,  r?.  V.  ;Mauy 


thonist'lvcH  to  v.uiity  jind  tlui  usual  risks  and  tempta- 
tion lliiit  aiicnd  it.  But,  boforo  tlio  end  ol'  tlu*  first 
year,  this  was  all  cured ;  and,,  on  Corpus  Christi,  a 
modest  neatness  was  tlu;  cliaraeteristic  of  all,  and  their 
head-tire  and  otlun*  gilded  decorations  were  lyinf?  at 
ilio  feet  of  th(!  statue;  of  St.  jNIary  the  Yirj^'in.  Hiiico 
that  day,  n<»  people;  lias  (!vcr  surpassed  the  Canadians 
in  devotion  to  the  H(»ly  raniily. 

About  tli(!  autumn  of  1711,  Ville-Mario  was  filled 
with  tenor  at  the  repcn-t  of  an  Eu^^lish  avnuiment, 
twelve  thousand  strong,'  on  their  way  from  Boston  to 
the  concpnst  of  Canada.  Mo:  aeal  and  Quebec,  had 
they  been  together,  had  no  means  of  resisting  even  the 
half  of  sncli  a  force; ;  and  it  was  soon  clearly  evident 
that,  if  hel[)  there  were,  it  must  be  only  from  the  hand 
of  God.  To  Him,  therefore,  the  Catholic  i)eo[tle  had 
recourse.  The  churches  were  thronged,  the  altars  be- 
sieged. Men  ai'd  women  vied  with  each  other  in  acts 
of  interior  and  exterior  penitence.  And,  at  last,  the 
young  })('opl(!  wlio  formed  the  external  Congregation 
of  Notre  Dame  united  in  a  vow  to  the  sacred  Mether 
of  God,  that  if,  by  her  powerful  intercession,  she  would 
save  the  town,  which  was  built  in  her  honor  and  bore 
her  gracious  name,  they  would  erect  a  shrine  in  their 
gratitude,  in  jx'rjivfnaiu  rci  vicnioriaiii,  which  should 
bear  the  title  of  Our  Lady  of  Victory.  As  the  timo 
passed  on,  the  rumors  grew  to  certainty.  The  iicct 
was  already  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  advancing  swiftly 


*  Bancrol't's  History  of  tli«  Uuited  State,  vol.  iii.  p.  233. 


IN  NoUTII    AMi:RIfA. 


131 


towiinls  tlio  city.  Tlio  iilarm  reacliod  own  tlio  crll  of 
Sister  lo  llcr.  Tlui  sister  who  carried  licr  moilrst  pro- 
vision  to  licr,  told  lier  tlmt,  if  tlin  wind  slmuld  hold 
fiivorahlc,  the  I'jiglisli  fleet  and  tlui  ruin  of  ^loiitreal 
would  ari'ivc^  together,  and  that  in  a  day  or  two.  jJut, 
lifter  a  sliort  silence,  the  rcclnso  said,  oahnly  ;  "  No, 
my  sister,  the  IJIossed  Vir;,'in  will  take  cai<i  of  the 
country;  she  ih  tho  guardian  of  Ville-Mari<',  and  wo 
have  nothinjj;  to  fear." 

N(nv  the  people  of  the  j^ood  town  had  J-McjiI  confi- 
dciuH!  in  the  prayor.s  of  the  holy  recluse,  and  they 
trusted  in  God  in  tho  midst  of  their  reasonable  alarm. 
Her  cou^;ln,  the  Baron  de  Ltm.^ueil,  governor  of  tho 
place,  resolv(Hl  to  attack  the  advancing  lli>et  olT  Cham- 
hly,  and  do  what  ho  could  to  Icoop  them  from  tlio 
town.  He  couhl  got  hut  a  nun'o  handful  of  men,  and 
liis  hopi  s  wcro  entirely  in  the  help  of  (heir  Blessed 
Patronc^ss.  So  a  banner  was  prepared,  on  the  centre 
whereof  they  wrought  a  picture  of  tho  Yii:;iii  Mother, 
and  Jeanne  lo  B(>r's  cunninu;  needle  worked  round  tho 
image  this  l(>gend  :  "  Our  enemies  put  all  their  trust 
in  anus,  but  we  confide  in  the  Queen  of  Angels,  whom 
we  invoke.  8h<^  is  t'U'rible  as  an  army  in  battle  array, 
and  under  her  j^rotection  wo  hope  to  vaiupiish  our 
foos."  M.  de  Belmont  blessed  the  standard  before  all 
tho  populace  in  tho  parish  cjinrch  of  Our  liady.  'i'licn, 
bearing  it  in  his  own  hands,  Longueil  set  forth  at  the 
head  of  his  little  trot)p. 

Their  trust  was  not  in  vain.  Heaven  fought  visibly 
for  tho  ricrvants  of  Mary.     As  tho  Hoot  camo  up  the 


132 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


i 


St.  Lawi-enco,  abreast  of  Egg  Islancl,  on  tho  night  of 
the  second  of  Soptonihcr,  a  fierce  northward-careering 
gale  smote  them  suddenly.  Seven  of  the  largest  shins 
were  instantly  wrecked,  another  was  strnclc  witli  light- 
ning, and  the  sliattered  remnants  of  its  hr.lk  Ihmg 
sheer  up  npon  the  yellow  sands.  The  sliores  Avere 
covered  witli  corpses — neai'ly  three  thoiisand,  say  tho 
French— about  a  thousand,  says  the  accurate  Bancroft. 
The  rest  were  driven  from  the  river,  ami  fled  back  to 
Boston,  where  their  arrival  was  followed  by  a  conila- 
gratiou  that  destroyed  eighty  houses. 

When  solemn  thanksgiving  had  been  rendered  to 
the  Most  High  for  this  signal  deliverance,  the  rxferna 
of  th(^  Congregation  commenced  their  collection.  Tlio 
sisters  gave  a  piece  of  ground  within  their  own  inclo- 
suro,  and  the  chapel  of  Our  Lady  of  Victory  raised  its 
roof  above  the  dwellings  of  Montreal.  Po]ie  Bene- 
dict XIII.  enriched  it  with  privileges  and  indulgences ; 
its  patronal  feast  was  the  Nativity  of  Mary ;  and,  for 
many  a  year,  no  day  ever  saw  it  unvisited  by  faithful 
worslii]ipers  who  came  to  give  thanks  for  their  preser- 
vation. Burned  with  the  other  buildings,  it  Avas  recon- 
structed in  1/G9,  and  became  thenceforward  the  par- 
ticular chapel  of  the  exferncs  of  Notre  Dame. 

But  the  gi-eatest,  as  it  was  the  first,  treasure  of  the 
good  sisters  was,  and  is,  their  church,  Our  Lady  of 
Good  Help,  JS/'ofre  Dame  de  Bon  Scconr.9.  If  you  should 
make  a  pilgrimage  to  this  famed  Ameri(!an  shrine — and 
a  more  c  difying  devotion  you  will  not  find  on  tliis  coji- 
tinent — you  will  see  its  quaint  structure  on  the  hill- 


IN  North  A]u:erica. 


133 


Bido,  fronting  Notre  Dame  Street,  and  overlooking  the 
broad,  sail-covered  St.  Lawrence.  Its  not  ungraceful, 
ratli'jr  Oriental-looking  steeple,  -vAitli  its  tAvo  open  lan- 
terns, one  above  tlie  other  ;  its  steep,  snow-shedding 
roof,  and  old-fatihioned  ornamentation  of  the  doorway, 
will  at  once  carry  you  back  to  the  date  of  the  Jesuit 
mart^'r  and  the  Indian  niisrsious.  Of  course,  tin's,  or 
something  like  it,  had  found  a  place  in  M.  Olier's 
saintly  reveries.  "  Oftini,"  he  says,  "  it  comes  into  my 
heart  that  God  will,  of  His  grace,  send  mo  to  Montreal, 
in  Canada,  where  the  first  chapel  built  to  Him  shall  be 
under  the  title  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  and  I  shall  bo  the 
chaplain  of  that  Blessed  Lady." '  But  he  was  not  to 
see  Canada ;  the  work  was  for  Margumite  Bourgeoys, 
and  we  have  seen  her  struggles  to  build  crowned  Avith 
ultimate  success  in  1675.  The  wish  of  M.  Olier  was 
fulfilled  in  the  pei'son  of  his  spiritual  children,  the  Sul- 
piciaiis,  for  they  became  the  chaplains  of  Our  Lady  in 
Yille-Marie.  Father  Souart  headed  a  procession  of  all 
the  people  upon  the  feast  of  Saints  Peter  and  Paul, 
and  solenndy  blessed  and  laid  the  corner-stone — 
"  D.  0.  M.  Bcafce  Mavm  Virrjini  et  sub  tUnlo  Assump- 
Uoim.  To  God,  most  Good,  most  Might}-,  and  to 
Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin,  imder  the  title  of  the  As- 
sumption." 

The  walls  rose  SAviftly ;  a  bell  was  cast  from  a  bronze 
cannon  wliich  had  been  burst  in  the  Iroqiiois  war ;  the 
iuiiaculou-3  statue  of  Our  Lady  was  placed  in  a  shrijie, 


'  Vio  de  Marguerite  Bourgeoys,  i.  238. 


it 


134 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maey 


I! 


':t 


gilt  and  ciiricliod  witli  jewels,  and  Bon  Secoiirs  stood 
open  to  the  faithful,  the  first  stone  chnrch  on  the 
island.  Thou  the  sisters  made  over  all  their  claim  to 
the  parish  church  of  tlio  city,  retaining  this  privilege 
alone,  the  perpetual  right  to  keep  it  in  repair,  and  to 
adorn  it,  "wldcli  we  offer  to  do,"  they  say,  "  to  I'ender 
to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  our  Mother,  all  the  honor  and 
service  tliat  we  can."  This  was  accepted  by  the  Sul- 
picians,  as  hn-dr;  of  Yille-Marie,  and  the  de(>d  was 
scaled  with  their  famous  seal  for  Montvcid,  wliich 
shows  on  its  intaglio  the  Queen  of  Saints  laieehng  to 
receive  the  Most  Holy  Eucharist  fnnn  the  hands  of 
the  beloved  Disciple,  ■s\  ith  this  brief,  eloquent  legend  : 
"  Virgo  Virgincni  vin/i:)!  commnnicaf.  A  virgin  to  a 
virgin  gives  a  Yirgin  in  communion."  And  there, 
henceforth,  were  daily  Masses  said;  and  ther(>,  in  all 
distresses  and  calamitic^s,  were  public  })rocessions 
made ;  a  daily  pilgrimage  sprang  iip  for  the  citizens, 
and  from  the  remotest  parts  of  settled  Canada  camo 
others,  for  alread}'  Our  Lady  of  Bon  Sccours  had  be- 
come the  refuge  of  New  France,  and  to  her  protection 
was  attributed  the  success  of  the  infant  colony.  This 
was  the  beacon  of  the  boatmen  on  the  stormy  river, 
and  the  remembrance  of  the  trapper  in  the  far-off 
forests.  For  the  Sisters  of  the  Hospital,  cxprdled  by 
the  fire  of  1734,  it  became  a  refuge,  a  hospital,  and  a 
grave  ;  for,  almost  coeval  with  the  fire,  an  ejiidemic  of 
most  virulent  kind  ])roke  forth  ;  they  had  no  place  but 
the  chapel  wherehi  to  lay  their  sick ;  and  it  was  within 
its  venerated  walls  that  they  performed  their  offices  of 


soil]  -wc 

reo])Ie, 

back  in 

people 

J'econstri 

'IS  waste 

^oi  that 

'  Manup] 


IN  NoETH  America. 

loo 
mercy;  and  that  eleven  nf  ih^. 

«ed  thoro,  and  .0     Zm^  ■'"""'"  '^  ""^  P'»e"«. 

ae  Virgin  of  Good  Help"  ""'  ""'^^'^  «'«  »^««  of 

In  175J  a  great  part  of  the  tn-™ 
"...i  this  time,  to  the  horror  of  the       "T  ''"™'  "=""'"' 
their  beloved  and  venerated  u       '"'  "'"^  '"=''»M 

Not..ing.a..aved.pie:::i  ™:-;-^^ 

appeared  under  the  smol-;.  f'>™iturc-a]l  dis- 

Beneath  the  ashes  thevfonrd  t  \-^^  "S"'  '""  ''°<'- 
discolored  by  the  (i!!,  "  "'°  ^""'^  *'■""<'. ''ot  even 
I-.gine  with  what  jo'  «  "l  '"  ^"*"'  P--rvation. 
<"  the  Congregatioi.^  i:"  '::°7f  -^^^  ««  S-ters 
to  their  own  ohureh.  and  Z  2v  !  ""'  *™"™ 
•o  tansfer  thither  the  n,  Iv  iM  f  ^'^  '''°"^«'' 

the  «ne  of  Bon  Seeolr     ,  T     '"'''"'  ^""'  ^''""J' 
uu  otcoms  had  been  enriehn,! 

Many  an  evil  followed  this      F„       """'• 
English  eonqnest,  with  its  t  1  ^      ""'  ""'  ''™'  »■"' 
«-  -hes  grew  blaelc  witl      ^T!;''™."-'  -^ 
venerated  shrine,  and  the  rahr,  b    7  "''■'  °*  "'« 

singled  then,  with  the  soi       v  ,"'""  "'^'"  ^^ 

people,  "All,  if  we  onK.  1  ,  °  °'"*  °'  "  eonqnered 
t-Icin  her  'own  L^  rl^T,^""^'  °'  ^-''  «'* 
"™l>'o  were  disheart!  ;;  ,1  t,«"  :?"'"  «"'«- 
'■econsfrncfion.    At  last  t  """""='  *""■•"■''»  a 

-  ««te  land,  and  this  r!,???'""' "'""'"''  "'^  P'-e 


13G 


Pevotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


people  liG  might  liavo ;  but  Our  Lady's  littlo  plat  of 
gi'ouiul !  no,  that,  at  least,  uo  governor  shoukl  get,  by 
any  fault  of  theh's. 

So,  toAvartls  the  end  of  June,  in  1771,  the  ground  was 
cleared  anew ;  aud,  on  the  anniversary  of  the  first  pro- 
cession, a  second,  manifold  as  great,  chanting  litanies 
and  hymns,  passed  to  the  spot  to  lay  anew  the  ancient 
corner-stoiio.     The  new  inscription  tells  the  history  of 
the  shrine  :  "  D.  0.  M.  ct  Beaiw  Mariw  Auxiliatrici  suh 
tilnlo  Assnm2>t'>on'is,    Tc)vj>h(m  hoc,    2""^'"^^*'w   angnstiori 
forma  mllJicatiDii,  anno  1G75,  |)o.v/ra  Jlammis  adustnm 
anno  1754,  ampliora  forma  rcsfauravci'tivt  Gives  Mari- 
anopoVitanl,   cnUui  Bmkv    Maruv.    Virginis  adJidissiwi 
anno  1771,  die  Jnnii  30"  cadeni  qua  jirimus  lajtis  vetcris 
ecdesia',  fuerat  imponitioi.     To  God,  the  All  Good,  tlio 
Almight^-.  and  to  Blessed  Mary  of  Good  Help  under 
the  tiHc  of  the  Assumption,  the  citizens  of  Vill(^-Marie, 
most  devoted  to  the  veneration  of  the  Blessed  Yirgiii 
Mary,  Lave  restored  this  Temple,  built  at  first  in  1G75 
of  narrower  dimensions,  consumed  by  the  flames  in 
1754,  in  pnipln-  form,  this  30th  day  of  June,  1771,  the 
same  day  that  the  first  stone  of  the  ancient  shrine  was 
laid." ' 

It  was  finished  in  1774,  and  so  stands  to-day.  It  is 
not  large,  the  nave  being  seventy  feet  by  forty-six; 
the  choir,  thirty-two  by  thirty  ;  but  it  holds  the  relig- 
ious heart  of  Canada.     Over  the  portal  stands  Oiu- 


!# 
% 
i'1^ 


'  Vie  do  Marguerite  Bourgeoys,  ii.  427-30;    Pclerin    de  Notre 


Dame,  23-24. 


IN  NoFTH  America. 


13^ 


Lady's  image,  with  tlio  logond :  "  Maria  AnxlUnm 
Chrislianonnn — Maiy  Help  of  (christians."  It  looks 
over  the  SAvift-rusliiiig  river,  and  tlie  flash  of  its  metal- 
lic roof  makes  it  a  beacon  to  the  boatman  and  the 
sailor,  "beckoning  him,"  says  Father  Martin,  'as  it 
were,  to  the  shore  of  the  heavenly  country,  the  port  of 
safety  and  repose."  The  fanions  imago  was  of  dark- 
browu  Avood,  exquisitely  seulptared,  and,  after  being 
the  object  of  afFeetionate  veneration  for  three  cen- 
turies, was  stolen  by  some  infamous  wretch  in  1831, 
and  has  never  been  recovered.  How  it  iias;  been  re- 
placed by  a  modern  substitute,  we  shall  see  hereafter 

Another  an<;ient  American  shrine  of  the  Blessed 
Mother,  near,  or  rather  at  present  in,  Montreal,  miist 
have  brief  notice.  It  is  that  of  the  first  chapel  at  La 
Prairie,  Iho  Indian  mi:ssion  so  often  refer  ed  to  in 
tliciepagc,  .  The  date  is  1G75,  September  22.  Very 
liumble,  indeed,  in  man's  eyes,  is  the  gift  we  chronicle, 
but  precious  as  St.  Peter's  or  Cologne  in  the  sight  of 
God  and  to  the  heart  of  Mary.  It  was  only  "  a  lodge 
of  stakes  or  upright  logs,  straw-tln-tched ;  but,  for 
thirty  years,  it  sheltered  the  celebration  of  the  Divine 
Mysteries,  and  echoed  to  the  responses  of  the  Eosary." 
Nay,  within  its  little  inclosure  of  tv»enty  by  twenty-five 
feet,  Mgr.  de  St.  Vallior  once  held  a  confirmation  in 
1692.    And  this  is  the  deed  of  gift : 

"  Pierre  Pora,  and  Deniso  Lemaistre,  his  wife,  both 
dwelling  at  the  Prairie  of  the  Magdalen,  with  mutual 
accord  and  consent,  moved  thereto  by  an  impulse  of 
piety,  have  given,  and  by  these  presents  give,  to  the 


1!  L 


138 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Holy  Virgin  3Iary  Our  3f(>lJicr,  purely,  simply,  and  ir- 
rcvocalJy,  a  stake  1  Igo,  tliatcliod  with  straAv,  situated 
on  their  propert}^  at  the  Goto  St.  Landjert,  with  the  site 
of  the  said  lodge,  as  well  as  with  a  perch  of  land  a.^ 
round,  and  a  right  of  Avay  to  bo  adjudgcnl  and  marked 
out ;  the  said  lodge,  site,  environ,  and  way,  to  be  per- 
petually used  for  the  service  <f  iJie  Blessed  Virgin,  and 
this  lodge  to  be  made  a  church  dedicated  to  her 
name." '  Sixteen  years  from  this  time  the  jiious  donors 
were  massacred  by  the  ineyitable  Iroquois ;  but  the 
simple  church  they  gave,  blessed  under  the  title  of 
Our  Lady's  Immaculate  Conception,  survived  them  for 
many  3'ears  ;  and  even  now  a  handsome  cross  marks 
the  spot,  and  has  indulgences,  attached  to  it  by  Mgr. 
Bourget,  for  all  who  shall  salute  it  with  respect.  Hero, 
then,  is  the  second  cl.'  irch  ol  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion, in  a  land  Avhere  now  nearly  a  hundred  temples 
stand  in  honor  of  that  Avoudrous  mystery. 

Next,  in  Montreal,  was,  and  is,  the  church  of  Our 
Lady  of  the  Visitation,  or  the  church  of  the  Congrega- 
tion. Built,  as  we  have  seen,  chiefly  by  the  help  of 
Mademoiselle  le  Ber  in  1G96,  this  shrine  of  the  faithful 
children  of  Mary  Avas  held  second,  in  the  devotion  ol 
the  people,  only  to  Bon  Secours.  Here  mouldered  the 
heart  of  Sister  Marguerite ;  here  lived  and  died  the 
saintly  recluse ;  here,  for  many  years,  all  the  indul- 
gences of  Bon  Secours,  were  obtainable ;  and  here,  in 


•  Souvenirs  Historiques  sur  la  Seigneurie  do  la  Prairie :  par  J.  Viger, 
Ecuier,  ancieu  et  premier  Maire  do  Montreal.    1857. 


m  North  America. 


139 


our  own  day,  some  of  the  most  earnest  devotions  in 
Canada  take  place.  In  1718,  a  pious  widow,  Marie 
Biron,  gave  foundation  for  a  Mass  and  Benediction  of 
the  Blessed  Sacrament  in  honor  of  the  holy  Heart  of 
Mary,  "  with  intention  of  conforming  to  the  zeal  which 
the  Sisters  of  Our  Lady  have  ever  shown  to  inspire  in 
the  breasts  of.  the  children  whom  they  educate,  a 
knowledge  of,  and  love  for,  that  most  Sacred  Heart." ' 
For  this  purpose  was  the  Mass  to  he  offered  and  the 
Benediction  given,  after  which  the  sisters  were  to  say 
a  De  Pro/umUs  for  the  souls  in  purgatory,  who,  when 
on  earth,  had  shown  devotion  towards  the  Heart  of 
Mary. 

This  pious  intention  is  still  carried  out  on  the  feast 
of  that  title,  the  Sunday  in  the  Octave  of  the  Assump- 
tion. Burned  in  1708,  this  church  was  rebuilt,  as  it 
now  stands,  by  the  close  of  the  next  year.  The  last  of 
the  ancient  shrines  mentioned  by  us  here,  is  Kotre 
Dame  des  Neigcs. 

Fronting  on  Sherbrooke-street,  a  wall  of  defence  and 
two  towers  are  still  erect,  to  show  you  where  once 
stood  Our  Lady  of  the  J^noivs.  Formerly,  surrounded 
by  the  dwellings  of  the  Indian  converts  and  their  in- 
structors of  the  "  Mountain  Mission,"  it  stood  on  the 
southern  slope  of  the  Eoyal  Mount.  The  present 
chapel  of  the  name  is  in  the  village  of  Cote  des 
Keiges,  behind  the  mountain.  Here  follows  the 
Legend  of — 


.1' 


'  Vie  (Ic  Marguerite  Bourgeoys,  ii.  354. 


m 


110 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  M\ry 


OUR  LADY  OF  THE  SNOWS. 

If,  pilgrim,  chance  tby  Htcps  should  lead. 
Where,  emblem  of  our  holy  crood, 

Cimndinn  crosBC:     ''■>w — 
There  you  muj  'leai' wi    ,  ii  '•  ,»■  a  it  *d. 
And  Buek,  iu  witucsa  of  tavi  dcxxl. 

Our  Ludy  of  the  rfnc     ' 

In  the  old  times,  when  Frunce  held  sway 
From  the  Balize  to  II  ml  son's  Bay, 

O'er  nil  the  forest  free, 
A  noble  Breton  cavalier 
Had  made  hie  home  for  many  a  year 

Beside  the  Rivers  Three. 

To  tempest  and  to  trouble  proof, 
Rose  iu  the  wild  his  glittering  roof, 

To  every  traveller  dear ; 
The  Breion  song,  the  Breton  dance, 
The  very  atraosphero  of  France, 

Difl'used  a  generous  cheer. 

Strange  sight,  that  on  those  fields  of  snow 
The  genial  vine  of  Gaul  should  gr^  v, 

Despite  the  frigid  sky ! 
Strange  power  of  man's  all-conquering  will. 
That  here  the  hearty  Frank  can  still 

A  Frenchman  live  and  die ! 

The  Seigneur's  hair  was  ashen  gray. 
But  his  good  heart  held  holiday. 

Ah  when  in  youthful  j)ride 
He  bared  his  shining  blade  before 
De  Tracey's  regiment,  on  the  shore 

Which  France  has  glorified. 


•  From  "  Canadian   Ballads,"  by  lion.  T.  D.  McGee,  M.  P.  P., 
Montreal. 


IN  ■'  "oRTH  America. 


141 


Oay  in  t^e  ile  '1,  glail  in  tho  Imll, 
Tlie  first  at      ugcr's  frontier  call, 

Tho  i\>'  'iblest  (i  .votce 
Of  God  nnd   if  St.  Cathorino  dear 
tVas  iho  btout  Tin-ton  -lavalici 
Beside  tlic  Rivers  Tliree. 


P.P., 


Wlicn  bleak  Deconiber'a  chilly  blast 
Fettortd  the  flowinu:  waters  fast, 

And  swt^pt  tho  frozc^n  plain — 
When,  with  a  fn/vh toned  cry,  half  heard 
Far  southward  fled  the  arctic  bird, 

Proclaini'-ig  winter's  reign— 

His  custom  was,  como  foul,  come  fair. 
For  Christmas  dirties  to  repair 

llni )  the  Ville-Marie, 
The  City  i  ,  tho  Mount,  ».liich  north 
Of  the  great  river  looketh  forth 

Across  its  sylvan  sea. 

Fact  fell  tho  snow,  and  soft  as  sleep, 
The  hillocks  looked  like  frozen  sheep, 

Like  giants  gray  tho  hills — 
The  sailing  pino  seemed  canvas  spread, 
With  its  white  burden  overhead, 

And  marble  hard  the  rills. 

A  thick,  dull  light,  where  ray  was  none 
Of  moon,  or  star,  or  ciieerful  sun, 

Obscurely  showed  the  way — 
While  merrily  upon  the  blast 
The  jingling  horse-bells,  pattering  fast, 

Timed  the  glad  roundelay . 

Swift  eve  came  on,  and  faster  fell 
The  winnowed  storm  on  ridgo  and  deU, 

EfiTacing  shape  and  sign — 
Until  the  scene  grew  blank  at  last, 
^8  when  some  seaman  from  tho  masl 

Looks  o'er  the  shoreless  brine. 


]v 


142 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maby 


r  S 


% 


Nor  mnrvcl  nught  to  find,  ero  long, 
In  Huch  a  sctJiiu  tlui  death  of  song 

Upon  tlio  bravcHt  lips — 
Tho  empty  only  could  bo  loud 
When  naturt)  IVonta  us  in  her  shroud, 

13enouth  tho  sky's  eclipse. 

Nor  marvel  more  to  find  tho  steed. 
Though  fumed  lor  travel  or  for  speed, 

Drag  on  a  i.ainful  pace — 
With  drooping  crest,  and  faltering  foot. 
And  puhil'ul  wliine,  the  weary  bruto 

Seemed  conscious  of  disgrace. 

Until  he  paused  in  mortal  fear. 
Then  plaiutiv(i  sank  upon  tho  mere, 

Stitt"  as  a  steed  of  stone. 
In  vain  the  master  winds  his  horn- 
None,  save  the  howling  wolves  forlorn. 

Attend  the  dying  roan, 

Sad  was  the  heart  and  sore  the  plight 
Of  tlie  benumbed,  bewildered  knight. 

Now  scrambling  through  the  storm. 
At  every  step  he  sank  apace, 
The  death-dew  freezing  on  his  face — 

In  vain  each  loud  alarm. 

Down  on  his  knees  hinist'lf  he  cast. 
Deeming  that  hour  to  be  his  last, 

Yet  mindful  of  his  faith — 
He  prayed  St.  Catherine  and  St.  John, 
And  our  dear  Lady  calleil  upon 

For  grac(;  of  happy  death. 

When,  lo  1  a  light  beneath  the  trees. 
Which  clank  their  brilliants  in  the  breeze, 

And  lo !  a  jdiantom  fair ! 
As  God  is  in  heaven !  by  that  blest  light 
Our  Lady's  self  rose  to  his  sight. 

In  robes  that  sijirits  wear  I 


IN  North  Ameiiica. 


143 


Oh  I  lovelier,  lovelier  far  than  pon, 
Or  tongue,  or  art,  or  funcy'ri  ken 

Can  pictun ,  vvuh  her  tiiciy— 
Gone  was  tlie  Horrow  of  the  Hword, 
Ami  the  last  passion  of  our  Lord 

Had  left  no  living  trace. 

As  when  the  moon  across  the  moor 
Pointd  the  lost  peasant  to  his  door, 

And  glistens  on  his  jjaiie — 
>r  when  alon^i:  her  trail  of  light 
Belated  boatmen  steer  at  night, 

A  harbor  to  reguin — 

So  the  warm  radiance  from  her  hands 
Unbinds  for  him  dtsath's  icy  bandti, 

And  nerves  his  sinking  heart — 
Her  presence  makes  a  jierffct  path; 
Ah  I  ho  who  siicli  a  helper  hath. 

May  anywliere  depart. 

All  trembling,  as  she  onward  smili^d. 
Followed  tiiat  knight  our  Mother  liuld, 

Vowing  a  gratefid  vow  ; 
Until,  far  down  the  mountain  gorge. 
She  led  him  to  an  anti(iuo  forge, 

Where  her  own  shrine  stands  now. 

If,  pilgrim,  chance  thy  steps  should  lead 
"Where,  emblem  of  our  holy  creed, 

Canadian  crosses  glow — 
There  you  may  hear  wliat  hero  you  read, 
And  seek,  in  witness  of  the  deed. 

Our  Lady  of  tho  Snow. 


At  Quebec,  tlio  Recollect  Fathers  liad  raised  a 
handsome  clmrch,  as  early  as  1G93,  "to  tho  per- 
petual glory  of  God  and  the  honor  of  the  Virgin 
Mother  of  God,  r^stead  of    the  ancient    convent  of 


:*i 


111 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Our  liiuly  of  Augols,"  couvertod  into  an  asylum  for 
the  poor.' 

But  aid,  ovon  an  tlio  orij^'iiml  convent — older  than 
our  little  straw-thatched  lodge  at  La  Praiiio — is  tho 
cathedral  of  tho  lunnaculate  Conception,  built  by  the 
noble  and  saintly  Bishop  jMoutmorenci  de  Laval,  in 
IGGO.  So  that  they  built  cathedrals  in  America  two 
hundred  years  ago,  in  honor  of  that  dogma  which  tho 
learned  reformed  divines  declaro  a  novelty  in  18G0. 
The  cathedral  is  very  lofty,  with  massive  arches  of 
stone  dividing  the  nave  from  tho  aisles ;  its  dimensions 
are  two  hundred  and  sixteen  feet  by  one  hundred  and 
eight,  and  it  can  contain  four  thousand  worshippers. 
The  tall  tower  and  spire  stand  detached  from  the  body 
of  the  building.  Its  interior  was  destroyed  by  shells 
during  the  bombardment  of  1751),  and  the  i^icturos  and 
decorations  now  there  are  modern. 

Next  comes  the  hospital,  with  its  chapel,  dedicated, 
in  1G72,  "  to  the  Blood  of  Christ  poured  forth  for  us, 
and  to  the  Blessed  Mother  of  Mercy — clfaso  Chridi 
Sanguini  et  Mmricordm  Jlatri;"  and  thither  one  goes 
to  look  at  Coypel's  famous  picture  of  the  "  Virgin  and 
Child." 

At  the  repulse  of  the  British  arms  in  1G90,  the 
Feast  of  Our  Lady  of  Victory  was  established  in  the 
church  of  that  title ;  and,  twenty-one  years  later,  on 
the  wreck  of  the  Boston  fleet,  tho  title  was  changed 


'  For  these  notices  of  churches  in  Quebec,  see  "  Hawkins*  Picture 
of  Quebec."    IBU. 


IN  North  America. 


115 


to  Our  Lady  of  Vii^torioa.    Tho  church  was  ch^stroyud 
by  tho  bombarchiicut  which  injured  tho  cuthodral. 

Of  okl  pictures  of  our  Blos.sod  Mother,  which  wo 
boar  of  in  Quebec,  tho  Ursuliiu's  po.ssesa  an  original 
Vandyke,  a  Jlfuter  Dolorosa.  Tho  Seminary  of  tho 
Holy  Family  has  a  Flujht  into  I^yypt,  by  Vauloo ;  an 
Adoration  of  the  Witie  Men;  and  a  Viryin  ministered  unto 
hjj  Amjds. 

E  » 


UG 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


CHAPTEE  VII. 


Devotion  in  Tkxas,  Oalifohnia,  Nkw  Mkxicio — Oun  Lady  of  Goa'ja- 
LiTK — TiiK  Xi:\v  Mount  Cai!mki, — The  Atlantio  Spanish  Misbiost- 
AKiKS— Maisyland. 

In  the  North  —as  we  hiive  seen — the  devotion  was 
planted  and  grcAv ;  grew  steadily,  in  spite  of  checks 
und  obstacles.  Throngliout  the  present  British  pos- 
sessions it  maintained  itself  healthfully,  Avitli  the  single 
exception  of  unfortunate  Acadia.  But  its  story  in  the 
South  is  twofold.  Brought  by  the  earl}-  Spaniards,  ever 
devoted  to  the  Holy  Mother  of  God,  her  name  was 
proclaimed  upon  the  coasts  of  Florida  and  Alabama ; 
was  carried  thence  through  the  forests  as  far  north  as 
the  Bay  of  St.  Mary  (the  Chesapeake) ;  as  far  west  as 
the  yellow  Mississipj)i.  But  new  dominions  drove  it 
hence,  only  to  be  renewed  with  additional  fervor  in  our 
own  day.  This  was  the  approach  from  the  Atlantic 
and  from  tlie  Gulf  of  Mexico.  But  the  conquests  of 
Our  Lady  of  Victories  were  more  progressive  and 
steadfast  on  the  Pacific  side — the  side  of  the  Ocean  of 
Peace.  Here,  securely  sheltered  by  the  golden  flag  of 
Spain,  the  missionary  pushed  his  way  through  the 
Mexican  territories,  new  and  old — Texas  and  Cali- 
fornia. From  that  day  the  love  of  Mary  has  conse- 
crated those  regions ;  and  still  are  the  rivers,  the 
mountain  /:aks,  the  valleys,  and  the  upland  slopes, 


IN  North  America. 


147 


blosijed  by  licr  bcuitiful  iifinio.  A  daily  nc-\v.sp,i])er 
will  show  this,  Avliereiii  tlio  letters  from  tli(!se  coriiitries 
are  full  of  Santa  Maria,  Asuncion,  Vir^cni,  Concei)oion, 
Loreto,  El  llosario,  Carmolo,  and  la  Purissima  ;  tlio 
last  new  dioeeso  ostablislied  tliero  is  Marysville,  and 
the  capital  of  Now  Mexico  is  still  called  Santa  Fe. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  blood  of  so  many 
holy  missionaries  had  been  slied  in  vain  in  the  South- 
ern Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  or  that  the  English  arms 
effectually  destroj-ed  idl  reverence  for  the  sacred  name 
of  Mary.  Something  survived,  if  only  the  solitary 
"  one  cluster  of  grapes,  or  as  the  shaldng  of  the  olive- 
tree,  two  or  throe  berries  on  the  outermost  l)ougli,  or 
four  or  five  on  the  top  of  the  tree." '  Enough  was  loft 
tj  give  courage  by  tradition,  enough  to  su])])ort  hope 
when  it  pleased  the  Son  of  Mary  to  "  send  new  laborers 
into  His  harvest." 

Although  the  first  explorers  w^ho  landed  on  the 
Southern  coast  were  accompanied  by  ecclesiastics,  yet 
there  remains  no  record  of  any  fruits  gathered  by  them 
for  God.  But,  as  early  as  152G,  Mexico,  thoroughly 
Christianized,  began  to  pour  her  heroic  missionaries 
upon  the  Northern  shores  of  the  New  World  Mediter- 
lauean.  Franciscan,  Dominican,  and  Jesuit  struggled 
side  by  side.  These  first  missions  were  about  St. 
Augustine,  the  town  founded  on  the  Feast  of  Our 
Lady's  Nativity,  with  solemn  celebration  of  that  rising 


'  Sicut  raccmus  nt  siciit  excussio  diets  duarum  vel  trium  olivarum 
in  suinmitiite  mini,  sive  quatuor  aut  quinque  in  cacumiiiibus  ejus 


fructus  ejus. — Isuiaj,  xvU.  6. 


148 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maey 


of  the  Morning  Star.  By  1597,  three  chapels,  dedi- 
cated to  Our  Lady,  stood  upon  the  soil  of  Florida ;  a 
mission  upon  St.  Mary's  Bay  invited  the  Algonquins  of 
Virginia ;  anoiaier  wooed  the  Uchees  and  Catawbas 
amid  the  pine-covered  Carolinian  mountains.  The 
Cherokee,  the  Natchez,  the  Mobilian  tribes,  were 
visited.  The  Indian  and  the  Sj^aniard  knelt  side  by 
side  at  the  foot  of  the  stately  statue  of  Our  Lady, 
which  threw  its  stately  shadow  over  the  harbor  of 
Pensacola.  But  they  were  nearly  all  washed  away  in 
blood.  The  tomahawk  and  arrows  of  the  savages  slew 
Over  thirty  Jesuits,  Dominicans,  and  Franciscans.  The 
English  conquest  did  the  rest.  The  Catholic  Indians 
who  throng  around  the  Spanish  St.  Augustine  grew 
few  and  feeble  in  the  destructive  and  licentious  pres- 
ence of  the  Saxon  successors  of  the  Spaniard.  They 
wandered  back  to  hide  themselves  in  their  tliick,  green 
everglades,  and  were  called  Scminoles — the  Wanderers. 
By  17S3  they  were  all  gone  from  the  neighboriiood  of 
the  citj  \\'here  they  had  been  peacefullj'  colonized  and 
instructed  in  the  faith  of  Christ  and  the  virtues  of  civil- 
ization, near  the  shrine  of  St.  Mary  the  Virgin. 

The  same  power  desolated  the  missions  of  Alabama, 
until,  in  1722,  none  remained  of  the  converts  save  four 
chiefs — Oziuntolo,  the  Creek ;  Adrian  and  John  Mark, 
the  Appalachicolas  ;  and  Tixjana,  or  Baltasar,  chief  of 
the  Talapoosas.  These,  gathering  a  hundred  Chris- 
tians of  their  trib'^s,  estal)lished  the  Mission  of  Our 
Lady  of  the  Solitude.  Tlien  came  the  cession  to  the 
English,  and  the  red-sldnned  devotee  of  Mary  disap- 


mmmimi^^''*-''^"' 


I!"|IP< 


IN  North  America. 


149 


peared.  Their  piiesis  were  banislied ;  the  religion  of 
the  foolish  Establishment  was  proclaimed ;  and  if  any- 
still  lingered  Avho  loved  the  beautiful  Name,  it  was  in 
the  fastnesses  of  the  forest  yet  jiathless  for  the  invader, 
NevcrthelesG,  before  we  cross  the  Mississippi,  let  us 
note  the  double  consecration  of  its  waters  to  the  Im- 
maculate Conception.  Almost  from  its  source  to  the 
Arkansas  had  Marquette  made  its  shores  hear  the 
praise  of  that  adorable  mystery  of  God's  love  to  man  ; 
and,  ere  his  followers  sank  the  body  of  Fernando  de 
Soto  in  its  turbulent  floods  where  they  near  the  sea, 
his  fingers  had  traced  in  his  last  will  and  testament 
these  directions : 

"I  order" — he  saj^s,  after  the  usual  Christian  pref- 
ace and  commendation  of  his  soul  to  the  Most  Holv 
Trinity — "  I  order  that,  wherever  I  may  die,  my  body 
shall  be  carried  to  Xores — to  the  church  of  San  INIiguel, 
and  laid  in  the  sepulchre  where  lies  my  mofher."  •-  *  * 
"And  in  that  church,  I  order  that  of  my  goods  a  site 
and  place  be  bought,  where  shall  be  built  a  chapel, 
which  shall  have  for  its  invocation  Our  Lady  of  the 
Conception.  In  which  edifice  and  work  I  desire  that 
there  be  expended  two  thousand  ducats — fifteen  hun- 
dred for  the  structure  and  inclosure,  and  five  hundred 
for  an  altar-piece  representing  the  said  Invocation  of 
Om-  Lady  of  the  Conception."  He  then  directs  fiilly 
the  furnishing  of  silk  vestments ;  the  chaplain's  salary ; 
the  fund  for  the  perpetual  guardianship  and  repair  of 
the  chapel,  and  for  the  Masses  to  he  said  therein — to 
wit :  five  of  the  Passion  of  our  Lord ;  five  of  His  sacred 


150 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


wounds  ;  sixty  for  tlio  souls  in  Purgatory ;  ten  of  All 
S  lints;  ten  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  twenty  of  "  Our 
Lady  of  the  Conception."  And  then  he  adds  :  "  In  tjie 
event  that  my  body  cannot  be  taken  for  sepulture  to 
S])ain,  I  order  that  ihat  bo  no  impediment  or  hindrance 
to  the  founding  of  said  chapel."  Ah,  Christian  Cabal- 
lero !  not  beside  thy  mother ;  not  in  the  chapel  of  the 
Conception  ;  but  in  the  swift,  turbid  river  of  the  Con- 
ception were  thy  bones  laid  to  moulder  until  the  trump 
of  God  shall  bid  them  rise.     licquicscant  in  iMxce!^ 

Meanwhile,  in  Mexico,  the  r.evotion  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin  was  spreading  rapidly  and  surely.  The  Sjian- 
iard  had  been  nurtured  in  it  afar  off  beside  the  Anda- 
lusian  streams,  or  on  the  hills  of  Castile.  And  the 
Indians — they  were  a  gentle  race,  except  in  the  cele- 
bration of  thoir  pagan  rites — the  Indians  gladly  learned 
the  beautiful  mystery  of  the  Saviour's  Incarnation,  and 
gave  up  their  whole  hearts  to  His  inHuonce,  embracing 
with  simple  but  most  earnest  faith  the  privilege  of 
sharing  in  Mary's  maternal  love.  In  a  little  while  they 
returned  that  love  with  faithful  childlike  affection,  and 
so  won  great  s})iritual  reward  from  her  gracious  in- 
tercession. 

Throughout  Texas,  xirizona,  New  Mexico,  and  parts 
of  California,  you  find  churches  by  the  score  dedicated 
to  the  Mother  of  God.  Some  of  these  were  built  but 
yesterday;  some,  echoing  now  on  festal  days  to  the 


'  D»»  Soto's  w."  jif.ybe  t"  und  in  the  "  American  Ilisforiciil  Maga- 
zine," vol,  V ;  p.  lOl. 


SBjaact**--"- 


IN  North  AsrERiOA. 


151 


chant  of  Our  Lady's  Litanies,  or  the  choral  sweetness 
of  the  Ave  licjjina,  heard  the  same  sounds  swelling 
from  Lidian  voices  two  hundred  and  forty  years  ago. 
On  every  mountain-side,  on  forest  edge,  on  village- 
watering  stream,  iipon  the  frontier  of  the  far-stretching 
prairie  deserts,  beside  the  cailon's  brink,  they  stand, 
perpetual  prayers  in  stone,  invoking  the  intercession 
of  the  matchless  Virgin  with  her  eternal  Son :  Our 
Lady  of  the  Eosary,  Our  Lady  of  Angels,  Our  Lady 
of  Light,  Our  Lady  of  Carmcl,  Our  Lady  of  Sorrows, 
Our  Lady's  Annunciation,  Nativity,  Immaculate  Con- 
ception, Assumption ;  Our  Lady  of  Belon,  of  Santa 
Cruz,  of  the  Canon  de  Jemes ;  but,  above  all,  Our 
Lady  of  GuADALurE ! 

No  less  than  five  of  those  famed  shrines  are  fdled 
with  praise,  even  in  this  age,  in  the  diocese  of  Santa 
Fe  alone.  That  diocese  is  well  named,  for  the  holy 
faith,  bCAvn  tlievo  in  blood  throe  hundred  years  ago, 
has  never  faded  from  the  people's  hearts.  IJut  why 
so  many  shrines  of  GiiadaJiipe  ?  Ask  tlio  lady  in  the 
drawing-room,  or  the  shepherd-boy  on  the  hill-side ; 
inquire  of  the  soldier  in  the  barrack,  the  cattle-driver 
oil  the  pampa,  the  Indian  girl  Avitli  the  basket  of  fruit 
upon  her  dark-tressed  head,  and  they  will  all  tell  you 
the  same  otor}'  of  Nuesfra  Scnoru  Je  G uadaliipe.^ 

Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe  was  soon  the  patroness  of 
all  New  Spain ;  Texas,  and  California,  and  New  Mex- 


'  The  Icgeud  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe  is  given  in  Orsini's  Life 
(Virtue's  cditiou),  p.  37-1. 


152 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


ico,  were  rivf.ls  in  showing  her  honor.  Rivers  and 
towns  were  called  after  lior  u.'ime,  and  little  hanilots 
on  the  edge  of  the  forests  still  bear  the  name  of  Guada- 
lupita,  or  Little  Gnadalupe. 

At  least  a  score  of  clmrclies,  dedicated  to  Our  Lady 
of  Guadaliii)e,  have  in  those  States  resisted  the  clianges 
of  empire ;  the  many  revolutions ;  tlie  influx  Ox  'Icoii- 
tious  infidels  from  the  Eastern  States ;  the  crncl, 
caus(doss,  wicked  dfsstruction  jf  the  harmless  CathoUc 
Lidians  bj  the  people  of  the  United  States.'  A  chap- 
ter was  formed  for  the  first  church,  and  Pope  Benedict 
Xiy.  accoided  a  Mass  and  office,  with  a  privileged 
octavo.  The  copy  of  the  miraciikjus  portrait  given 
him,  he  gave  to  the  religious  of  the  Yisitatit)n  of  tlie 
Blessed  Virgin  in  the  Eterii;d  City.  To  Spain  he  gave 
+he  right  of  celebrating  the  festival  in  Europe,  and  the 
great  Pius  VI.  extended  the  privilege  to  Italy. 

Judge  then,  with  such  a  patroness  for  New  Spain, 
how  fast  tlie  devotion  spread !  By  1581  the  fearless 
missionaries  had  carried  it  seven  hundred  miles  from 
the  ca2:)ital,  into  what  is  now  the  State  of  New  Mexico. 
'J'lie  land  was  of  course  inigated  here,  as  elsev»'liere, 
with  blood;  and  the  first  to  fall  for  St.  Mary  was  the 
Fransciscan  Father,  Juan  de  Santa  Maria.  Sixteen 
years  later,  eight  more  of  the  same  oi'der  had  pene- 
trated to  the  northern  Bio  Grande.  By  1G08  eight 
thousand  souls  had  been  baptized  into  the  faith  oi' 
Christ ;  and  when  less  than  a  score  of  years  more  had 


Vide  note  at  end  of  chapter. 


IN  North  AjfEmcA. 


153 


rollod  over,  Futlior  Benavidos  had  established  the 
twcnty-sovonth  mission  in  Now  Mexico.  Three  Avell- 
built  churches  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadahipo,  and  others, 
under  vnrious  dedications,  sheltered  crowds  who  adored 
the  All  Holy  and  told  the  beads  of  the  Ilosary  of  the 
Virgin.  Of  these  poor  Indians,  in  spite  of  their  many 
suftcaings  from  the  {governments  which  have  plundered 
and  oppressed  them,  eight  thousand  still  exist  as  a 
proof  of  the  graces  won  from  God  by  la  Purissima 
Virgen. 

As  early  as  the  year  IfiSG  there  was  a  G'iculalwpe 
river  iu  Texas,  and  eight  Franciscan  missions  flourished 
on  its  borders.  Nay,  some  of  them  were  pushed  for- 
ward among  the  Osages  and  Missouris,  AvhOe  others, 
going  towards  the  Pacific  shore,  hfid  marched  to  the 
spiritual  conquest  of  California.  These  pioneers  of 
Cli'ist,  Avho  were  Inmting  souls,  more  precious  far  than 
gold,  were  i:^  a  special  way  St.  Mary's  own  sworn  ser- 
vants ;  they  were  the  Monks  of  Our  Lady  of  Mount 
Carrael.  These  Avere  the  founders,  two  centuries  and 
a  half  ago  (1601),  of  Santa  Barbara,  San  Francisco, 
and  Monterey ;  and,  at  the  latter  place,  an  altar  was 
erected  beneath  a  shadowy  oak,  and  Father  Andrew 
of  the  Assumption  of  the  Virgm  said  then  and  there 
the  first  Mass,  and  laid  claim  to  California  in  the  name 
of  the  King  of  kings.'  South  of  that  rose  -he  new 
Mount  Carmel,  and  the  mission  of  that  title  stood  at 
its  feet,  looking  out  upon  the  broad,  still,  transparent 


'  Sliea's  Indian  Missions,  p.  88. 
7* 


154 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


sen ;  and  the  dusky  rucljlos  gatlievcd  tlioro  to  loaru 
the  histoi-y  of  the  Iiiciivnutioii ;  to  bi;  glad  iit  tlie  ncnvs 
of  a  IlodeeiiKn';  to  ht'fc  their  untutored  liearts  in  rev- 
erent love  to  His  Mother,  Avhose  protection  tht-y  soon 
learm.'d  to  trust.  And  the  good  Fathers  won  tliem 
from  their  savage  sh^th,  and  idleness,  and  want,  having 
heard  in  their  souls  a  voice  lilio  that  which  sounded  to 
the  prophet  of  old  :  "  Feed  this  people  Avith  tliy  crook, 
this  Hock  of  thy  heritage,  which  dwell  solitary  in  the 
wood  in  the  midst  -f  Carmel."'  There  the  l)ea(ls  of 
Mary's  Rosary  Avere  t;iuglit,  and  the  hynnis  of  her 
feasts  were  sung  in  the  Indian  language;  and  ;is  in 
Asia  the  Mediterranean  bathed  tlie  feet  of  the  ancii'ut 
hill,  svj  hore  the  blue,  clear  Pacilic  sought  the  shori!, 
and  broke  at  the  base  of  the  uew-found  vineyard  of 
God.= 

Wondrous,  indeed,  were  some  of  our  dear  Mother's 
manifestations  of  pt  \.  er  and  protection.  In  the  Oct:ivo 
of  her  glorious  Assumption  into  Heaven,  year  1770, 
the  priests  Somera  and  Cambon  started  oil'  for  the  in- 
terior, where  pagan  tribes,  hitherto  unvisited,  were 
dying  in  ignorance  of  the  Father  of  all.  \Yeary  days 
and  nights  ther  travelled  witli  their  little  escort  of  ten 
soldiers,  till  they  reached  the  base  of  the  vast  Sierra. 
The  sun  was  going  down  over  tlie  Western  Ocean ;  the 
siiOWT  peaks  of  the  mountains  were  turning  roso-hued 
in  the  ^tthig  day,  Avhen  they  saw  hundreds  of  Inchans, 


Kil^- 


the 

TJi 
her  Li 
Nuest 
ciou, 
those 
the  Ai 
pi-aj-er,' 
that, 
luight 


1  Pascc  populum  tuinn  iu  virga  tua,  gregcm  liereditatis  tuis,  habi- 
tanres  solos  in  saltii,  iu  inodio  Carindi. — Micali,  vii.  14. 
'  The  Hebrew  word  Cunuel  siguifius  Gods  vineyard. 


IN  North  America. 


155 


fully  armed,  and  slioiiting  their  war-cry,  rushing  upon 
tliem.  A  moment's  commendation  of  their  soula  to 
God,  and  tlien  the  missionaries  unfurhul  their  battle- 
flag — the  liag  of  tho  Llcsscd  Virgin.  Fold  after  fold, 
the  azure  stan(hird,  studded  with  golden  stars,  streamed 
out  in  the  light  of  the  sunset,  and  fro)u  its  field  the 
radiant  beauty  of  Our  Lady's  eyes  beamed  on  tho 
startled  Indians.  Their  hearts  were  touched ;  thoy 
throw  away  their  arms  ;  and  catching  their  trinkets,  or 
whatever  else  they  had  of  valui;  with  them,  they  came 
forward  humbly  to  offer  them  to  her  as  a  propitiatv^^' 
uift.  Thev  were  soon  won  to  know  her  and  lovx;  her 
hctter ;  the  Mission  of  SiUi  G  abriel,  of  him  who  brought 
to  her  tho  message  of  tho  Inearnatioiik,  ro.se  among  the 
mountains;  the  Cross  Avas  secuivty  planted,  and  tho 
first  Mass  was  ottered  on  the  Fetvs-t  (^"  her  Nativity,  in 
the  chapel  Avhich  her  new  childl'en  had  builded. 

Thus  the  whole  ffolden  land  was  won  to  Marv  and 
her  Livine,  Eternal  Child.  Missions  of  Santa  Maria, 
Nuestra  Senova  do  la  Soledad,  la  Puri.v.sima  Concep- 
ciou,  were  crowded  with  the  Christianized  natives.  All 
these  establishments  had  tho  same  rule.  At  daybrnak 
the  Augelus  summoned  idl  to  (ihiireh  for  morning 
prayers  and  Mass  before  their  fast  was  broken.  After 
that,  each  went  where  the  duties  and  labors  of  the  day 
might  summon  him.  Again  the  xVngelus  recalled  them 
at  eleven,  Avhen  they  dined,  rested  until  two,  and  re- 
turned to  work,  until  the  third  Angelus  sounded  as  the 
sun  Avent  down,  and  they  gathered  for  the  Rosary  and 
then  for  their  last  meal.     The  evenings  were  spent  ii) 


15G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


■:ii|' 


innocent  rccrf^ations.  Their  wcaltli  was  in  common, 
auJ  was  laid  ont  by  their  spiritual  Fathers  for  thtsir 
best  welfare ;  happy,  innocent,  and  pious,  thus  they 
lived,  until  the  "  lust  of  gai?i  in  the  spirit  of  Cain"  scut 
the  eastiU'u  money- worshipper  among  them  to  blight, 
dcniorali;^e,  and  destroy. 

In  18I>7,  thirty-one  thonsaiid  lingered  still  in  phuii- 
tude  and  peace ;  but  the  nexf  year  Father  Saria  died 
01  starvation  and  poverty — died  clad  in  his  sacerdot'd 
vestments,  as  he  strove  to  begin  the  Mass  whore  for 
thirty  years  ho  had  offered  it,  at  the  altar  of  Our  Lady 
of  the  Solitude.  In  1810  there  remained  of  these 
poor  children  of  God  only  about  four  thousand  in  all 
the  missions  of  California.  Would  you  know  the  rest 
of  their  history,  read  the  note  which  follows  this 
chapter. 

^Vhile  these  first  conversions  were  going  on  in  tlio 
more  Southern  and  Southwestern  States,  an  English 
n(jbleman,  a  friend  of  his  Icing,  yet  powerless  to  prac- 
tise his  religion  even  under  that  protection,  resolv('d  to 
seek  for  freedom  of  faith  in  America.  A  grant  of  lands 
was  obtained ;  the  expedition  organized ;  the  spiritual 
charge  of  it  given  to  some  Jesuit  Fathers,  and  thus  the 
first  step  was  taken  towards  the  estal>lishment  of  that 
church  which,  two  centuries  later,  slioidd  declare  Our 
Lady  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  patroness  of  all 
the  land. 

It  was  then,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
six  hundred  and  thirtj^-thrce,  on  the  twent3''-second  day 
of  November,  the  first  day  in  the  Octave  of  Our  Lady's 


IN  North  A>reRiC.». 


167 


Prt'sont.'itioii  in  tlio  Tciiiplo,  tliat  tlio  Catliolle  ciiii- 
gi'ants,  uiuler  Lord  Bultiuioro,  onihiirki'tl  on  Ixiurtl  the 
"Ark"  and  tho  "Dove."  "Tli(\y  placod  tlicir  sliips," 
says  tlicir  chaplain,  Father  White,  "  under  the  protec- 
tion of  God,  of  tho  Bh^ssed  \'irp;in  ^NFother,  of  St.  If^na- 
tins,  and  of  the  Guardiiin  Angfls  of  Maryland,"  and  ao 
set  forth  to  S(;ek  religions  freedom  in  tho  f(n"os[s  of 
America.  Their  voyage  was  long,  as  nsual  in  those 
days,  and  a  furious  storiu  threatened  to  send  them  to 
the  bottom.  Tho  two  vessels  were  driven  apart,  and 
in  the  one  which  bore  the  Jesuit  they  expected  and 
prepared  for  death.  Strengthened  by  the  Sacrament 
of  Penance,  t^^ey  had  i-esigned  hope,  almost,  when  the 
priest,  kneeling  on  tho  drenched  deck,  called  to  witness 
"  the  Lord  Jesus  and  His  Holy  jNFother,  that  the  pur- 
pose of  the  voyage  was  to  pa}""  honor  to  the  Blood  of 
the  Bedeemer  by  the  conversion  of  the  bai'barians." 
The  tempest  soon  hilled,  and,  at  the  close  of  February, 
they  gave  thanks  to  the  Blessed  Yirgin  as  they  landed 
in  Virginia.  Then  sailing  up  the  Chesapeake,  first 
called,  by  Christian  men,  St.  Mary's  Bay,  they  entered 
the  Potomac,  and  reached  the  territory  of  ]\[aryland. 

Their  first  solemn  thanksgiving  for  safe  arrival  was 
made  on  the  Feast  of  Our  Lady's  Annunciation  (March 
25).  They  offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  and 
then  planting  a  huge  cross,  hewn  from  a  tree,  they 
knelt  at  its  foot  to  recite;  tho  Litanies.  No  other  colo- 
nists of  the  United  States,  known  to  its,  dealt  so  fairly 
with  the  red-men.  No  rnm,  no  worthless  triidvcts,  no 
destructive  weapons  were  used  in  trade ;  but  the  Indian 


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158 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


J-  '-''rf' 

■  f 


sot  lus  own  A'filno  (Jii  the  hind,  purted  from  it  willingly, 
and  received  in  exclnmge  seeds,  cloths,  and  instru- 
ments of  linsl)a'.Klry.  No  native  blood  stains  the  soil 
j.iiirchased  ior  St.  Mar}'  the  Yirgin ;  no  Indian  warfiivo 
is  in  the  records  of  its  history ;  but  on  St.  Mary's 
River  they  pitcluid  their  tents,  and,  in  friendship  -svitli 
the  red-man,  laid  tlie  foundation  of  their  town.  They 
called  it  after  the  beloved  Mother  of  their  Lord,  to 
•\vhoso  prf)tecti<3n  they  avowed  their  safety  from  the 
perils  of  the  sea ;  and  fen-  years  the  little  town  of  St. 
Mary's  was  the  centre  of  their  colony. 

Ono  of  their  earliest  converts  was  tlie  chief  Tayac, 
jiTul  with  him  were  baptized  his  wife  and  daughter, 
b('>tli  (jf  whom  received  the  sacred  name  of  Mary.  And 
fi^iCni  tlie  fervent  heart  of  the  Jesuit  Father  White  was 
gl/idcL'ned  by  hundreds  of  neophytes,  for  the  aborigines 
ro<5oived  v.ith  joy  the  doctriae  of  Christ.  The  cere- 
mony of  Llie  baptism  of  the  chief's  family  had  been 
coiiducli-Hl  with  what  pomp  their  rude  circumstances 
permitted.  A  cross  was  ])orne  la  procession,  the  gov- 
ernor of  tho  eolonv  and  his  officers  walking  beside  the 
dusky  American  king,  and  all  chanting  the  beautiful 
words  of  tlie  Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  Soon  came 
the  crowning  boast  of  this  colony,  the  passage  of  the 
religi(Mis  toleration  act,  in  KiiO  ;  for  these  children  of 
bt.  Mary  had  not  been,  like  the  Puritans  of  New  Eng- 
land, soured  by  persecution  into  relentless  and  absurd 
intolerance.  Clmrches  soon  arose  to  bless  the  land, 
sometimes  the  woik  of  government,  sometimes  of  in- 
dividuals, as  when  William  Bretton  gave,  for  a  church, 


IN  North  America. 


159 


a  grant  of  land  "in  lionor  of  Almiglity  God  and  the 
Ever  Inimaculate  Virgin  Mary." ' 

Tliis  colony,  it  is  true,  was  soon  to  sec  itself  dis- 
francliised,  robbed  of  its  religious  froedoni,  and  its 
Catliolie  people  stripped  of  their  privileges  for  wor- 
shipping God  in  the  way  of  their  fathers.  But  Leforo 
this,  Father  White  had  displayed  the  spirit  of  his  holy 
Company,  in  the  evangelization  of  the  sa\ages.  Sail- 
ing up  the  rivers  in  an  open  boat,  with  a  box  of  pres- 
ents, a  chest  containing  the  sacred  vestments  and 
altar-stone,  and  a  basket  of  provisions,  with  a  mat  iov 
shelter  from  the  sun  and  rain,  lie  went  forth  in  pursuit 
of  souls.  Towards  nightfall  the  boat  wj.s  made  fast 
to  the  shore  ;  the  two  attendants  v/cnt  into  the  wood 
to  look  for  game  ;  and  the  priest  gathered  sticks  to 
make  a  lire,  or,  if  it  rained,  stret.;i.od  the  mat  upon 
boughs  of  trees.  "  Thanks  be  to  God,"  he  says,  "  we 
enjoy  oiir  scanty  fare  and  hard  b^ds  as  much  as  if  we 
were  accommodated  with  the  luxuries  of  Europe." 

On  one  of  these  occasions  ho  was  called  to  a  Chris- 
tian Indian,  an  Anacostan,  who  had  fallen  into  an  am- 
bush of  Susquehar.nns  and  been  rim  through  with  a 
lauce.  Father  White  found  him  chanting  his  doath- 
soug,  and  the  Christian  red-men  beside  him  praying 
fervontl}'.  Then  the  good  priest  heard  his  confession 
and  prepared  him  for  death.  But,  ere  leaving  him,  he 
read  a  gospel  and  the  Litany  of  Lovetto  over  him ;  he 
urged  him  to  commend  his  soul  to  Jesus  and  to  Mary. 


'  Day-Star  of  Amoricun  Fronjom.  by  O.  L.  L.  Davis,  p  228 


IGO 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


IV' 


Tlion,  toucliing  liis  woiiiids  Avitli  a  relic  of  the  true 
cross,  lio  l)fide  the  attendants  bring  the  body  to  the 
chapel  for  interment,  and  launched  his  canoe  to  go  visit 
a  dying  catcchunien.  lleturning  the  next  day,  he  be- 
held Avith  amazement  the  same  Indian  vigorously  pro- 
pelling a  canoe  to  meet  him.  When  they  met,  the 
Anacostan  steriped  into  the  priest's  canoe,  and,  drop- 
ping his  bhmket,  showed  him  a  faint  red  line,  Avhicli 
was  all  the  trace  remaining  of  the  deadly  wound.  Rec- 
ommending him  to  make  his  whole  life  an  act  of  grati- 
tude to  Jesus  and  Mary,  the  father  went  on  his  way, 
giving  thanks  to  God.* 

But  here  the  further  records  of  devotion  to  our 
Heavenly  Queen,  if  any  such  exist,  from  this  time  to 
the  Pievolution  of  1770,  have,  owing  to  the  distracted 
condition  of  these  States,  and  other  causes,  become 
quite  inaccessible  to  the  present  writer.  The  present 
significance  of  the  settlement  of  Maryland  is  this,  that 
the  devotion  to  Our  Blessed  Lady,  expressed  in  the 
English  language,  here  enters  the  now  territory  of  the 
United  States.  The  Span'ards  planted  it,  to  be  well- 
uigh  extinguished,  along  the  Mexican  Gulf ;  and,  more 
permanently,  in  Texas,  California,  New  Mexico,  as  early 
as  1540.  The  French  so  cherished  it  from  its  first 
coming,  in  1G15,  that  it  gTew  with  luxuriant  beauty, 
grows  daily  now,  and  loromises,  by  God's  blessing,  to 
shelter,  with  its  pleasant  shade,  the  wdiole  North,  from 
the  Arctic  circle  to  the  great  lakes.     The  English,  as 


'  Shea's  Mibsions,  492,  493. 


mmmmmmm 


IN  North  America. 


IGl 


WG  see,  attempt  the  centre  in  1G34.  We  shall  return 
to  them  at  the  period  of  the  American  Piovolution. 
Now  wo  are  to  look  at  the  other  early  Missions  in  the 
United  States. 


Note  to  Page  153. 


An  imexpocted  confirmation  of  this  sort  of  fact  is  found  in  Harper's 
Moiithl}/  Mafjazine,  ISOl,  p,  307,  et  scq.  Wlicn  I  v-iiw  in  tin;  Aiiindes 
de  la  P ropar/dtion  de  la  Foi,  the  statement  in  a  missiionary's  letter, 
that  tlie  whites  were  wont  to  "  try  their  new  visluh"  \x\)oxv  the  unfor- 
tunate Indians,  I  was  unwilling  to  believe.  Rend,  now,  tlii;  testimony 
to  that  and  to  the  Catholic  Missions  from  the  most  prejudiced  and 
anti-Catholic  work  in  this  country: 

"As  California  became  more  settled,  it  was  considered  profitable, 
owing  to  the  high  rate  of  compensation  for  white  labor,  to  cncourago 
the  Christian  Indian  tribes  to  adopt  habits  of  industry,  and  they  w(>re 
employed  very  generally  throughout  the  State.  In  the  vine-growing 
districts  they  were  usually  paid  in  native  brandy  every  Saturday 
night,  put  in  jail  next  morning  for  getting  drunk,  and  bailed  out  on 
Monday  to  work  out  the  fine  imj)osed  upon  them  by  the  local  authori- 
ties. This  0^(3toitn  still  pre\  iiils  in  Loa  Angeles,  where  I  have  often 
seen  a  dozon  of  these  miserable  wretches  carried  to  jiiil  roaring  drunk 
of  a  Sunday  morning.  The  inhabitants  of  Los  Angeles  an;  a  moral 
and  intelligiMit  people,  and  many  of  them  disapprove;  of  the  custom  on 
princifile,  and  hope  it  will  be  abolished  as  soon  as  the  Indians  are  all 
killed  off.  Practically  it  is  not  a  bad  waj  of  bettt-ring  their  condition  ; 
for  sonui  of  them  die  every  week  from  the  effects  of  debaucliery,  or  kill 
one  another  in  the  nocturnal  brawls  which  prevail  in  the  outskirts  of 
the  Piu'blo. 

"  The  settlers  in  the  northern  portions  of  the  State  had  a  still  more 
effectual  method  of  encouraging  the  Indians  to  adopt  habits  of  civilizar 
tion.  In  general  they  engaged  them  at  a  fixed  rate  of  wages  to  culti- 
vate the  ground,  and,  during  the  season  of  labor,  fed  them  on  beans 
and  gave  them  a  blanket  or  a  shirt  each  ;  after  which,  wlien  the  har- 
vest was  secured,  the  account  was  considered  squared,  and  the  Indians 
were  driven  oflf  to  forage  in  the  woods  for  themselves  and  families 
during  the  winter.  Starvation  usually  wound  up  a  considerable 
number  of  the  old  and  decrepit  ones  every  season  ;  and  of  those  that 


162 


Devoiion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


fiiilcd  to  jiivKli  from  liuiif^^iT  or  cxiKisiirc,  Honic  wcro  kill''cl  on  iho 
f(f'nt;rii1  iwinripli'  lliat  tlii'v  must  liavf?  suliHistcd  hy  stealing  rattlo,  for 
it  wtiH  wi'll  kiiuwn  that  <-iittIo  i'iiii;j;('(l  in  tho  vicinity;  wliilt;  others 
W(.'re  nut  iinlVi(iiiciit]y  «liuiii,-iitere(l  hy  the.ir  enij)h)ye;s  for  licliiing 
thcniHclvi.s  to  tli(^  refuHc  i)ortioiis  of  the  crop  which  hiul  bei  ii  left  in 
tho  ^ri'ouiid.  It  Miiiy  be  naid  that  thftse  wwro  c'xcc|)tion8  to  the  general 
rule;  but  it  ever  an  Indian  was  fully  and  lioneslly  paid  for  his  labor 
by  a  white  t^etilti',  it  was  not  my  luck  to  hear  of  it.  Certainly,  it 
could  not  have  been  of  ('re(inent  occurrence. 

"The  wild  Indians  inhabitin,"  th(^  Coast  Knngn,  tho  vnllevs  of  the 
Sacramento  and  San  Joaiiuin,  and  the  western  slo})0  of  the  Sierra 
r^'evada,  became  truubleswme  at  u  very  early  period  alter  the  discovery 
of  tlu^  gold  mines.  It  was  found  convenient  to  take  possession  of  their 
country  witliont  recompense,  rob  them  of  their  wives  and  children, 
kill  them  in  every  cowardly  and  barbarous  nninn(;r  that  could  be  du- 
vised,  and  when  that  was  impracticable,  drive  them  as  far  as  ix)ssibl(3 
out  of  tho  way.  Hucli  treatment  was  not  consi.stont  with  their  rude 
ideas  of  justice.  At  best  they  were  an  ignorant  race  of  Diggers, 
wholly  unai'(]iiaiiiti;d  with  our  enlightened  institutions.  They  could 
not  understand  why  tliey  should  bo  munlered,  robbed,  and  hunted 
down  in  this  way,  without  any  otlu'r  pretiMice  of  provocation  than  tho 
color  of  llieir  skin  and  tho  habits  of  lifo  to  which  they  had  always 
boon  accustomed. 

"  Voluuiinc'us  rejiorts  were  made  to  Congress,  showing  that  a  gen- 
eral reseiva^Dn  system,  on  the  jilan  so  successfully  pursued  by  the 
Sl)anish  missionaries,  would  best  ncconiplish  tho  object.  It  was  known 
that  tho  iMissi(jns  of  California  had  been  built  chiefly  by  Indiuu 
labor;  \\Mi  dnriinj  their  existence  the  prufttH  had  fully  demonstrated 
the  cajir.city  of  this  race  for  tho  acciuisition  of  civilized  habits;  that 
extensive  vineyaiils  and  largo  tracts  of  lands  had  been  cultivated 
solely  by  Indian  labor,  under  their  instruction ;  and  that  by  this 
humane  system  of  teaching,  many  hostile  tribes  had  l)een  sub(lu<d, 
and  enabled  not  only  to  supj^rt  theraselvos,  but  to  render  the  Mia- 
eions  highly  jirolitable  establishments. 

"No  aid  was  givin  by  government  beyond  the  grants  of  land  noceS' 
sary  for  missidiiaiy  purposes;  yet  they  soon  grew  wealthy,  owned 
immense  herds  of  catth',  supplied  agricultural  products  to  the  ranclio- 
ros,  and  curried  on  a  considerable  tratU;  in  hides  and  tallow  with  tho 
United  States.  If  the  Spanish  priests  could  do  this  without  arms  or 
assistance,  in  tho  uiidst  of  a  savage  country,  at  a  period  when  tho 


mmmm 


IN  North  America. 


103 


Indiniis  wore  moro  nniiiprons  nncl  morn  poworfiil  tlian  tln-y  nrc  n^w, 
Buroly  it  could  l)c  flono  in  a  coiiipnrativcly  civili/.i'd  rmiiitry  liy  iiittdli 
geiil  Ann'iiciinn,  with  all  tin;  liglits  of  oxpeiif nco  and  iIk;  co-oijuration 
of  a  licufflcrut  government. 

"  At  Nome  Cult  Valley,  diirinp^  the  winter  of  IS.IH-ni),  mere  tlian  ii 
iiundred  and  llfly  jKiaceablo  Indians,  including  women  and  children, 
were  cruelly  slaughtered  liy  tlio  wliitcH  who  had  settled  there  under 
otlicial  autliority,  and  most  of  whom  derived  tlioir  suppurt  (>itli(  r  from 
Hclual  or  indiroc*  connection  with  tho  reservation.  It  \^■!^s  nllesred 
tuut  tJiey  had  driven  oft"  und  eaten  private  cattle.  I  jion  an  invi  stiga- 
tion  of  this  charge,  nrndo  hy  tho  ollicery  of  tho  army,  it  was  found  to 
bo  (>ntirely  destitute  of  truth  ;  a  few  Ciittle  had  heen  lost,  oi-  probably 
killed  by  white  men,  and  this  was  tlio  whole  basis  of  1  be  massacre. 
Aniied  parties  W(!ut  into  tho  rancherias  in  open  day,  when  no  evil 
was  ajiprehended,  and  shot  the  Indians  down — weak,  harmless,  and 
dofenceless  as  th(!y  were — without  distinction  of  age  or  s.'x  :  sliot 
(town  womi-n  with  sucking  babes  at  their  breasts;  killed  (»■  cripf)led 
the  naked  children  that  were  running  about;  and,  after  they  had 
ui^Iiieved  this  brave  exploit,  apjx'aled  to  the  State;  (iovrrnm''nt  for 
aid!  Oh,  sliame,  shame!  where  is  thy  blush,  that  white  men  hhonld 
do  this  with  impunity  in  a  civilized  country,  under  the  very  eyes  of 
an  enlightened  government!  They  did  it,  and  they  did  more!  For 
(lays,  weeks,  and  months  they  rang(><l  the  hills  of  Nome  Cult,  killing 
every  Indian  that  was  too  wctak  to  cscajie ;  and,  what  is  worse,  they 
did  it  under  a  Sf;ate  Commission,  which,  in  all  charity,  I  must  beliovo 
was  issued  uj)on  false  represeiitatitmo.  A  more  cnid  series  of  out- 
rages than  those  perpetrated  upon  tho  poor  Indians  of  Nome  (^ult 
never  disgraced  a  community  of  white  men.  The  Siat(!  said  the 
settlers  must  bo  protected,  and  it  protected  them — proti'cted  them 
from  A-omen  and  children,  for  the  men  are  too  imbecile  and  too  abject 
to  figlit. 

"  During  the  winter  of  last  year  a  number  of  them  were  gathered 
at  Humboldt.  The  whites  thought  it  was  a  favorabh)  opportunity  for 
getting  rid  of  them  altogether.  So  they  went  in  a  body  to  the  Indian 
cflmp,  during  the  night,  wlien  th(!  poor  wretches  were  asleep,  shot  all 
the  men,  women,  and  children  they  could  at  tho  first  onslaught,  and 
cut  the  throats  of  tho  remainder.  Very  few  escaped.  Next  morning 
sixty  bodies  lay  weltering  in  the;  blood — the  old  and  the  young,  male 
and  female — with  every  wound  gaping  a  talo  of  liorror  to  tho  civilized 


164 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


world  riiiltlrnn  cliinbod  upon  their  motliors'  broasts  nnd  soiiplit 
nourinliiiiont  from  tho  fountainn  thiit  death  had  drainod;  girlH  and 
boys  hiy  hero  and  tlu-re  with  thciir  throats  cut  from  oar  to  car ;  men 
and  women,  clin<i;ini,'  to  each  other  in  their  terror,  were  found  jier- 
forated  with  bullets  or  cut  to  pieces  with  knives — all  wen*  eruelly  mur- 
dered I  liCt  any  who  doubt  this  read  tho  novv8i)a{)crs  of  San  Francispo 
of  that  date.  It  will  be;  found  tliero  in  its  most  bloody  and  traffic  do 
tails.  Let  them  rend  of  tho  Pitt  River  niassacro,  and  of  all  tho  nias- 
Bacres  that,  for  tho  past  three  years,  have  darkened  tiio  records  of  tho 
State." 

If  such  a  record  as  this  can  be  read  in  tho  papjes  of  Iliirpcr's  Mfiga- 
iinr,  in  what  liiu{,'uago  would  the  exiled  Frauciscan  describe  this  un- 
holy march  of  modern  civilization  1 


IN  "North  America. 


1G5 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

The  Dkvotion  in  Matne — Sillkky  and  Chaudieue  its  NntsEniES— Thk 
Wami'im  I5ia.T  you  Orit  1,ai)V  hf  ('iiAitTuioa — The  Vow  ok  tub 
OwKNAOTNOA — The  Mifi.sioN  op  tmk  Kknnkiiko — The  Mi'nnKii  of 
Fatiikk  liASLE— The  Cathoi,io  JJkd-skin  and  the  I'iiuitan  Council. 

FnoM  tlie  crimson  record  of  the  Iroquois  we  turn  to 
a  gentler  race  ; — from  llie  struggle  of  Christianity  -with 
sanguinary  paganism,  along  the  bright  lakes  of  New 
York,  to  the  serene  and  beautiful  rise  of  the  Morning 
Star  over  the  hills  and  pine-forests  of  Maine. 

The  reader  will  perhaps  recollect  that  lino  Catholic 
gentleman  and  knight  of  Malta,  Brulart  de  Sillery  ; — 
how  he  renounced  the  world  that  favored  him ;  left 
his  king  wlio  honored,  and  his  country  which  was 
proud  of  him,  to  consecrate  himself  to  God  in  the 
wilds  of  the  New  World ;  how,  "  to  testify  his  gratitude 
for  the  Avondrous  favors  received  fi'om  the  Mother  of 
Mercy,"  he  founded  the  Mission  of  St.  Joseph ;  and 
how  he  hoped,  "  by  the  merits  and  poAverful  help  of 
the  Holy  Virgin  Mother  of  God,"  to  "  attract,  assemble, 
and  settle  the  wandering  savages,  as  the  surest  means 
of  their  conversion."  By  that  powerful  help  the  foun- 
dation succeeded ;  numbers  of  Algonquins  and  Mon- 
tagnais  forsook  their  nomad  life  to  gather  round  the 
"  black-robes,"  to  live  by  tillage  of  the  soil,  and  to  ex- 


,M 


166 


Df.votton  to  Tiir:  H.  V.  Maiiy 


liiliit,  l\v  tlicir  lives,  a  siiiqilicity  and  fervor  of  intelli- 
gent fnUli  \\liicli  races,  self  railed  superior,  would  do 
well  to  eiiuilato. 

Eminent  aniou^j  those,  for  his  many  virtues,  was  tlio 
Al^'onquin,  Cliavlrs  INFeiMslcwat.  llearin,t^',  one;  day, 
tlijit  a  ]^arty  of  his  ])a^fan  clansmen  had  tiiken  soino 
Abenaki  pi-isoners  aiul  were  torturin.i,'  tlieui,  Ihonoh 
they  wei'(>  uot  eiuMuies,  he;  liurried  in  pursuit  iind  res- 
cued the  ca[)tiv(>s,  but  not  until  they  had  been  most 
savaiiclv  Irealed.  ]hit  lu!  brou'dit  them  d()\v?i  to  Sil- 
lery,  or  St.  Jose])h's,  and  thcn'o  tho  Hospital  Nuns, 
fi'om  the  Queb(>e  foundiition,  dress(>d  their  Avouiids,  iind 
attended  them  Vtith  their  usual  j^t^ntlo  charity  until 
they  were  (piit(j  ri'covered.  When  th(>y  went  home, 
well  armed  and  clothed,  Meitiskwat  accompanied  them, 
visited  their  towns  on  the  Kennebec,  and  preached 
Christ  and  His  blessed  faith  to  them.  Ono  sagjimo,  or 
chief,  retuined  with  him  to  Quebec,  was  instructed  and 
baptized.  His  exjunple  was  followed.  In  a  little 
while,  no  Alxmaki,  or,  jis  New  Yorkers  called  them, 
Owenagunga,  village  was  without  two  or  three  Chris- 
tians. Finally,  on  tho  feast  of  tho  Mother  of  God's 
Assumption  into  lioaven,  year  1010,  they  formally 
asked  for  blaclc-robes.  And  then  two  »Tesuit.s  went 
forth  from  their  ci^ntral  liouso  in  Quebec— Tsaiic 
Jogues  to  the  Now  York  Iroqiiois,  Gabriel  Druillettes 
to  tliG  tribes  of  Maine. 

Father  Gabriel  was  received  by  a  docile  and  gentle, 
although  lu^roically  brave  people.  In  three  niontlis  Le 
could  catechize  and  preach  in  their  own  tongue ;  and 


v.. 


IN  NouTii  Amehioa. 


107 


ho  l!il)ort!(l,  on  and  off',  ivs  tlio  nn(!ossiti(5S  of  otlior  uiiH- 
sion  Htiili(»ns  nMiuirod,  until  1057 ;  by  which  tinio  the 
ffnn\  H(!{hI  wuh  sown  iind  hud  Hpriiii;^  up,  novov  to  1)6 
onidiciitiul.  Allh()n;,'h  thoy  wuro  often  witlioiit  ii  niis- 
Kioujiry  for  h)n,^  yoai'H  at  a  time,  yet  they  remained 
stoiulfiist  in  the  faith.  Jjefore  the  atta(!k  on  Fort  Pen- 
(|iiid,  in  KiH!),  avo  ihid  all  the  braves  fortifying'  them- 
solvcs  by  the  Holy  Sai'ranient ;  and  diiviiiji,'  all  that 
oxpeilition  they  said  the  Ilosaiy  of  Our  Jihtsstul  Lady 
pcriH'tually,  without  inttirniission  even  at  meal-time,' 
Jiul;j;e,  tlu.'n,  if  they  had  not  Received  into  fervent  souls 
devotion  to  the  Queen  of  Angels.  And  bo  not  sur- 
})ns(>d  at  their  fidelity  throuj,di  the  long  residence  of 
Father  llnslcs  and  Father  Vincent  Bigot  anicmg  them  ; 
nor  yet  that  tlu^y  remain  to-day  pure  and  f(>rvent 
Cutliolics  amid  the  temptation,  vices,  and  irreligiou  ot 
oilcte  Puritanism.  From  about  1080  to  1700  the  niia- 
sionnrics,  unable  to  live  amongst  these  tribes,  sought 
to  draw  them  nearer  to  Quebec,  whence  spiritual  and 
physical  help  could  be  more  easily  procured. 

In  a  little  while  the  men  of  the  Kennebec  outiuini- 
bcrod  the  vanishing  Algonquins  in  Sillery,  and  for  years 
the  Mission  was  calhul  the  Abenaki.  Then  Father 
Jiinios  Pigot,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  founded  the 
Mission  of  St.  Franyois  de  Sales,  on  the  beautiful  Falls 
of  the  Chaudiere,  not  far  from  the  spot  where  your 
modern  maps  show  ymi  three  townships  of  St.  Mary 
side  by  side.     In  1G85,  the  new  reduction  absorbed 


Shca'a  Indian  Missions,  p.  143. 


1G8 


Drvotion  to  Tin:  13.  V.  Mauy 


^"^ 
^ 


tluit  of  Sillciy.  Two  IrttcrH'  of  Ffillicr  Bi^'ot,  now  l)o- 
for(>  UH,  iiro  lillcil  \villi  cdlfyinp,'  dctiiils  of  tlu'so  most 
forvt'iit  Ani(!i'irnii  (jiUioHch — tlioHo  fiiitliful  Aiiicriffin 
tlovot(!(!K  of  tli(!  Blessed  l\rotlu'r  of  God.  Tlicj  \V(>ro 
poor  to  extremity,  their  vi]I(i<,'e  Hceined  u  fiivorIt((  aLode 
for  epide'inics,  yet  men,  women,  mid  cliildreii  <!xliil)ited 
a  firm,  re.si^'ned  ]()V(^  for  tlio  liolj  will  of  Cod,  most 
edifyiii;^'  and  most  inKtruetivc  to  the  civili/ed  whife,  if, 
iiideiid,  ho  would  take  advanta^'o  th<'reof.  Their  pecu- 
liar relif^'iouH  charactoristieH,  if  wo  may  Hn,y  peculiar 
where  all  were  ko  good,  were  an  intense  trustful  love 
for  Jehu8  crucified,  and  .a  zeal  for  and  praetie(>  of  per- 
fect purity  in  honor  of  His  Immaculato  I\[other.  T<ii- 
derly  they  used  to  call  upon  lier  beautiful  nam(>  in 
their  sickness,  and  fondly  summon  her  to  the  couch  of 
death  with  prayers.  To  her  they  sent  their  choicest 
waniinim  necklaces,  the  wojk  of  a  whole  lon^f  winter's 
leisure.  Uo  you  smilo  at  the  poor  oft'ering  of  Indian 
beads?  send  yoiu'  own  necklaces  and  hracehits  of  gold 
and  ruby,  in  the  spirit  of  the  simple  Abenaki,  and  then 
you  maj^  smile  with  more  satisfaction  to  yourselves  and 
edification  to  your  neigh])or. 

Among  the  treasures  of  the  famous  cathedral  of  Onr 
Lady  of  Chartres,"  France,  you  may  still  see,  pres(n'V(  d 

'  TliG  lettors,  printed  from  tho  ori<ifinals,  form  pnrt  of  an  nxquisito 
series,  contriljuted,  anions  ho  many  otlur  tliiiif^s,  to  Amei'icaii  ("lirifitiiiu 
history,  by  tlie  in<l('l':itigalilc  /.<al  and  lasie  of  Ji-lin  (ijlmary  SIk'u. 

'  As  this  relebratcd  catlieslral  lins  not  Ivccn  <lo«!ril)''(l  in  tln'  \v(.rk  nf 
the  AIjI)';  Orsini,  and  as  it  hail  so  close  a  connection  with  our  |:o(jr  littlis 
American  Mission,  a  note  (lescri[)ti  vt;  of  it,  and  exi)lanatory  of  a  reliqiiurv 
Boou  to  be  mentioned,  will  fulluw  the  notice  of  the  Huron  ri'uuctiou. 


IN  Nor/rir  Amehica. 


160 


with  ro^oronro,  a  Ixuid  of  tliiw  H('a-sli('ll  wninpum,  all 
tlmt  tlio  AiiH^ricaii  liiid  of  most  precious  sent  to  Our 
Liidv,  us  a  ti>k('ii  of  tlirir  siinpln  lovo,  in  \(V.)-).  Tlio 
ground  is  vioU't,  and  in  wliito  hfttcrH  you  way  read  thin 
inscription : 

"  MATIir   VriUIINI   AllNAQUKKT,    I).  D." 

"To  tlu)  Virgin  l\rofli('r,  her  most  dcvotc'd  Alx-nalvis." 
The  cliapltr  of  llm  ^'rcat  (jatlicdral  rccciviid  tlio  olVcr- 
ing  as  it  would  Inivo  rcci'ivod  tlio  jowollcd  ^'ift  of  a 
liiii^f,  !ind  wrote  alTi'ctionately  to  tlio  poor  Indians  a 
thousand  loa'^Mics  away.  Whatever  tasto  and  power  of 
di'licate  labor  tli((  Owena;^'un^'a  could  bestow,  W(!ro 
liivislicd  on  this  belt.  The  best  workers  of  the  villa^o 
were  eniplo\'ed,  the  choicest  and  most  perfect  beads 
carefully  sekK'ted.  And  this  they  entreat  the  clerj^'y  of 
the  cathedral  "to  ofTer  as  their  little  present  to  tho 
most  r>less(Ml  Virgin."  "Though  it  Ix;  only  Indian 
work,"  they  say,  "our  sacred  Mother  will  see  by  it  our 
hearts,  and  all  the  sentiments  of  love  and  tendern(>ss 
with  which  we  oHer  it.  We  have  already  oflered  it 
here,  placing  it  at  tho  foot  of  her  imago  during  two 
whohi  novi^nas,  praying  for  you;  and  at  the  end  of 
each  day's  Mass  chanting  tho  IitLUohifa  hciilyiid  Iir<jina 
Maria"  Theso  novenas  commenced,  one  ou  the  Feast 
of  tho  Assumption  of  Our  Lady,  tho  other  on  that  of 
her  sinless  Nativity.  "  Ah,"  cries  Father  Vincent 
Bigot,  in  writing  of  theso  Indians,  "  if  you  could  hear 
thorn  sing  at  the  Holy  Mass ;  if  you  beheld  their  fer- 
vor, their  innocence,  their  extreme  abhorrence  of  even 

b 


170 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


^^ 


iP: 


the  least  fault,  tliciv  dooilitj  for  tlie  sacred  inj-stoi-ies, 
their  love  for  Jesus  Christ  crucified,  aud  for  His 
Blessed  Mother,  Avhich  attain  to  a  very  gr(>at  tender- 
ness, to  an  heroic  desire  for  suffering,  and  all  the  marks 
of  predestination  Avhicli  accompanj^  their  holy  deatli, 
you  "would  be  greatly  touched.'"  The  chapter  of 
Chartres  having  made  some  presents  to  the  little 
church  of  Chaudiere,  the  hearts  of  tlie  forest  children 
ove-'tlow  with  gratitude.  "  "Wo  always  loved  the  blessed 
Virgin  Mother,"  they  write,'^  "  wo  always  lionored  her 
sincerely;  but  now  it  seems  that  your  kind  gifts  have 
redoubled  oiu'  affection  and  reverence  for  our  good 
Lady.  Some  years  ago  avo  consecrated  to  her  our  vil- 
lage, our  persons,  all  that  we  have,  and  all  that  we  are. 
Each  year,  on  the  day  when  she  was  assumed,  body 
and  soul,  into  heaven,  we  renew  that  consecration. 
Present  our  poor  little  gift  to  Mary,  and,  wliat  wo 
especially  desire,  cause  that  this  very  paper  toiicli  her 
shrine.  Maybe,  from  that,  fresh  ardor  will  be  con- 
veyed to  us  here,  to  augment  our  love  for  our  sacrinl 
Princess..  We  have  said.  Let  this  bell  of  wampuia 
confirm  our  words." 

The  present  sent  from  Chartres  was,  as  we  find  by 
a  letter  from  Eev.  Pure  Aubery,  written  sixty  years 
later,  a  very  beautiful  statiie  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in 
silver,  a  copj^  of  that  known  as  Notre  Diano  sous  tenr, 
or  under-ground,   so    called    from    the   subterranean 


'  LesVa'ux  des  Iluroiis  et  des  Abnaqiiis  a  Notre  Dame  de  Chartres 
par  M.  Doublet  de  Boistliibault.    Chartres,  1857,  p.  33. 
'  Ibid.,  pp.  34-38. 


mmmmmm 


IN  North  America. 


171 


c-d  mysteries, 
aud   for  His 
ftreat  tender- 
all  tlio  marks 
ir  lioly  death, 
o    chapter   of 
to   the  little 
[orest  children 
•od  the  blessed 
s  lunioivd  her 
kind  gifts  ha\e 
for   om-  good 
to  her  our  vil- 
fiU  that  wo  are. 
assimied,  body 
t   conseeration. 
and,  wliat  we 
lapcr  toiich  her 
jr  will  be  cou- 
for  our  sacred 
leli  of  wumpuia 

as  we  find  by 
:teu  sixty  years 
Ih'ssed  Virgiu  in 
Dame  fious  ten-c, 
10   subterranean 


chapel,  which  will  be  described  in  a  note.  This  letter 
is  signed  by  the  missionary  and  six  Abenaki  chiefs. 

Tlie  letters  of  their  missionaries  are  full  of  simple 
little  traits  of  devotion  to  St.  Mary  the  Virgin.  Some- 
times they  would  want  the  Indian  names,  family  names 
of  the  women,  to  distinguish  in  their  registers  one  from 
another,  and  they  would  find  the  greatest  difficulty  in 
getting  them.  "  My  name  is  Mary,"  they  would  say. 
"  But  I  want  your  Indian  name — j-our  Abenaki  name." 
And  the  answer  would  be,  "  I  have  no  other  name ; 
Abenaki  name  no  good  ;  nijj  name  is  Mary !"  Almost 
every  woman  was  a  Mary ;  if  they  did  not  get  that 
name  in  baptism,  they  took  it  in  confirmation,  or  they 
would  go  and  ask  permission  of  their  pastor  to  be 
called  henceforward  hj  the  beloved  name.  Or,  after 
Mass,  they  would  linger  in  the  church,  even  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  to  recommend  their  resolutions  and 
their  good  thoughts  especially  to  her.  And,  after  all, 
what  elstj  ccndtl  they  do,  since  they  were  consecrated 
to  her  individually  and  as  a  peoide  ? 

It  was  on  the  Feast  of  the  Immaculate  Conception 
that  this  solemn  dedication,  or  duiiutlon  as  they  called 
it,  took  place.  They  adorned,  as  well  as  they  could, 
the  chapel  of  Our  Lady  in  the  church  at  Sillery,  ex- 
posing to  veneration  their  Ijcautiful  silver  statue  ;  and, 
for  many  days  after,  they  practised  particular  devo- 
tions in  honor  of  their  elected  Queen.'     Then,  every 


re  Dame  do  Chartros 
p.  33. 


'  Relation  de  ce  qui  s'ost  passi'  do  jilus  rcmarqimblc  dans  la  Mission 
Abniiqiiaiso  de  Pallid  J()8('i)h  do  Sillery  et  do  Siiinct  Fram.'ois  do  Sales 
I'annte  1GC5  :  par  lo  Pere  Jacques  Bigot  de  la  Compaynie  de  Jesus 


172 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


i "'.'. 


^M' 


year,  on  the  Feast  of  tlio  Assumption,  tliey  bore  tlio 
image  in  procession  to  bless  tlie  village  at  CliauJicre, 
and  solemnly  renewed  tlieir  gift.  This  was  their  act 
of  donation : 

"  Great  Marj^  may  the  heavens  ond  earth  bear  wit- 
ness to  our  sincerity.  May  all  thy  friends  gathered 
noAV  in  heaven  hear  us,  and  be  glad  that  Ave  thus  imi- 
tate them.  Let  them  testify  that  our  hearts  and  our 
words  accord.  May  Jesus,  our  Lord  and  our  God, 
acknoAvledge  our  sincerity,  who  hath  willed  His  in- 
fancy  to  be  governed  by  thee,  who  so  miraculously 
gave  him  birth ;  who  hath  made  the  universe  confess 
thee  JLady  of  all,  almost  as  though  He  had  placed  His 
sovereign  dominion  in  thy  hands.  May  He,  Avhom  we 
hail  as  Lord,  behold  our  hearts,  see  that  we  have  but 
one  thought,  that  thou  shalt  be  forever  our  Lady  ami 
our  Queen.  And  thou,  O  Mary,  hear  us  from  heaven, 
where  thou  art  throned  in  incomparable  splendor; 
hear  us,  and  accept  what  avc  oifer. 

"  O  Mary,  Virgin  Mother  of  God,  wo  have  long 
waited  for  this  day  to  choose  thee  for  our  Queen, 
for  hitherto  Ave  have  been  but  obscurely  thine.  Take, 
then,  possession  of  us  and  ours.  We  nuike  thee  mi;;- 
tress  of  our  A'illage,  and  therefore  have  Ave  borne  thine 
image  hither.  If  in  any  of  our  lodges  thou  shouldst 
see  Avhat  can  displease  thee,  hasten  to  remove  it.  May 
all  anger,  and  disujiion,  and  eA'il  speaking,  all  im})urity, 
drunkenness,  and  every  other  sin,  take  flight  before 
the  approach  of  thy  sinless  steps.  May  the  demon  not 
dare  to  injure  a  land  Avhich  belongs  to  thee.     Do  not 


mmm 


IN  North  America. 


173 


disdain  to  dwell  with  us,  since,  Laving  thee,  we  shall 
have  the  virtues  that  go  with  thee,  and  that  remain 
where  thou  art,  gentleness,  unitcdness,  charity,  docility. 
Do  not  refuse  to  dwell  with  us,  great  and  glorious 
Lady.  Though  among  us,  vile  and  contemptible  as  wo 
are,  thy  grandeur  will  not  be  obscured,  but  our  lowli- 
ness and  our  wretchedness  will  givs  it  new  splendor  by 
the  contrast. 

"  This,  our  blessed  Princess,  is  what  we  have  to  say. 
Would  to  God  that  our  words  were  engraven  upon  the 
rock,  never  to  bo  efl'aced.  But  they  Avill  not  vanish, 
for  they  are  written  on  our  hearts.  They  are  im- 
printed on  the  tender  hearts  even  of  our  little  children. 
They  will  hand  them  down,  and  our  remote  descend- 
ants shall  know  how  we  loved  thee  and  recognized 
thee  as  our  Queen.  So  shall  our  example  teach  them 
to  love  and  serve  thee.  AVoe  to  him  who  would  destroy' 
oiu'  affection,  or  change  the  sentiments  we  have  for 
tliee !  Eathor  may  the  brooks  cease  to  flow,  and  the 
smi  to  shine,  yea,  all  things  to  exist,  than  that  one  of 
our  descendants  should  prove  disloyal  to  thee.  Love 
us,  then,  Mary,  our  great  Queen ;  procure  for  us  the 
favor  of  thy  Son ;  and  may  we  one  day  behold  Anth 
joy  His  unutterable  glory  and  thine.  We  have 
spoken." ' 

This  was  the  school  in  which  the  true  Americans  of 
Maine  learned  the  faith  which  they  practise  still  on  the 
banks  of  the  Penobscot  and  Kennebec. 


'  Vceux  des  Ilurons,  pp.  39-41. 


174 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


TNIicn,  lifter  a  time,  the  IMissions  W(;re  re-established 
in  their  own  country,  by  the  sivhuon-filled  strcauis  of 
Maine,  we  liiul  no  diminution  in  tlie  fervor  of  these 
red-skinned  children  of  Saint  Mary.  Father  Tl'Ury,  at 
Panawaniske,  on  the  Penobscot ;  the  llecollect  Father 
Simon,  at  Medohtek,  on  the  St.  John's ;  and  Father 
Vincent  Jjigot  and  Father  Tuile,  or  Easle,  on  the  Ken- 
nebec, were  steadfast  laboi'crs  hy  1G88.  iJi^ot'  has 
two  especial  themes  of  praise  in  his  peo})le,  their  fervor 
for  tlie  Most  Adorable  Eucharist,  and  their  love  for 
Mary.  The  lirst  thin<^  in  the  morning,  the  hist  thing 
at  niglit,  Avas  a  visit  to  our  Lord,  if  only  for  a  few 
mom(;nts  :  going  to  or  returning  from  work,  the}-  made 
it  a  law  to  go  salute,  at  least,  the  Most  Holy.  So  fre- 
quent were  these  visits  of  ^he  children,  Avomen,  and 
men,  that  Father  Bigot  declares  it  was  like  a  continual 
little  procession  to  and  from  the  cha[)el.  So  constant 
a  habit  Inid  some  of  tliem  formed  of  spiritual  union 
with  our  Lord  and  liis  l)lt.'ssed  Mother,  that  none  of 
their  occupations  could  distract  them  from  it.  An  old 
chief  blesses  God  for  his  blitulness,  since  nothing  now 
cau  attract  his  sight  from  the  wounds  of  the  Crucified 
and  the  beautiful  face  of  Mary.  Maidens  die  in  their 
bloom,  blessing  her  for  taldng  them  uid'ettered  by  mar- 
riage and  its  distracting  cares.  A  young  man,  whose 
right  arm  was  drop})ing  to  pieces  from  necrosis  of  the 
bone,  would  ask  her  pardon  for  the  irrepressible  groans 


'  Kelation  do  ce  qui  s'est  i)asse  dans  la  Mission  des  Abnaquis  a 
I'Acadie  Tannce  1701. 


mmmim 


IN  North  America. 


175 


urung  from  liim  by  liis  bitter  pain.  To  tlic  priest  ask- 
iiig  a  younj^  girl  dying,  if  tlioy  could  d(j  nothing  to 
assuage  lier  suilerings,  slio  answered,  "No,  i'utlier,  I 
can  Avisli  for  nothing  more.  Tluj  Mother  of  Jesus,  my 
good  mother,  knows  that  I  htive  no  more  fervent  and 
continual  desire  than  to  see  her  face." ' 

An  Indian  who  desires  to  reach  a  point  has  a  way 
of  going  straiglit  at  it.  Not  remarkable  for  syllogistic 
abilities,  he  has  a  shorter  nu-thod  of  reaclung  correct 
conclusions.  The  Mohawk,  when  the  Al])any  Dutch- 
man sneered  at  her  for  honoring  Mary,  asked  to  whom 
ho  prayed.  He  said,  to  Christ  his  God.  But  she 
shaking  her  head  gravely,  said,  "Guess  not  pray 
mucli  ;  no  Inive  honor  for  Mother,  no  have  nuich  for 
Son."  One  of  tlic  Kennebec  chiefs,  of  Bigot's  time, 
was  taunted  with  th(i  errors  of  his  creed,  in  his  visits 
to  the  English  settlements,  and  urged  by  the  people 
to  adopt  theirs.  "Which  of  them?"  asked  the  red-man, 
"for  no  two  of  you  have  the  same."  Of  course  they 
must  deny  the  power  of  the  Blessed  Virgin ;  for  tlusy 
could  se(!  the  scapular  on  his  swarthy  chest,  or  the 
heads  and  medal  twisted  into  his  head-dress  ;  Init  he 
fought  the  usual  battle  with  tluun,  and  gave  himself  as 
an  examph)  to  prove  his  docti'ines.  "  You  have  known 
me  long  enough,"  ho  said.  "  Y(m  know  that  I  was  as 
hig  a  druidvard  as  ever  lived.  Well,  God  has  liad  pity 
on  me ;  and  I  can  dc^fy  any  one  to  reproach  me  with 
having  tasted  wine   or  brandy  for  many  years.     To 


>  !      ■) 


Rolation,  p.  30. 


170 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


whom  am  I  ol)ligecl  for  tliis  but  to  our  lioly  Lad}',  to 
the  MotliiT  of  Jesus.  Foi-  to  her  I  had  recourse  in  mj- 
extreme  fcebhiiiess,  for  grace  to  conquer  my  inveterate 
habit  of  drunkenness;  and  hj  lier  help  I  conquered 
it.  After  that,  Avill  yon  tell  me  that  the  saints  do  not 
hear  us;  that  it  is  useless  to  address  ourselves  to  the 
Mother  of  God?  T  believe  none  of  your  words  ;  you 
are  deceivers.  My  own  experiei.  oe  convinces  me  ;  and 
know  3'ou  this,"  and  tlie  brave,  a  reno^mod  one,  drew 
himself  u}),  and  his  dark  Indian  eye  kindled,  "  know 
this,  that  I  will  love  and  bless  the  holy  Virgin  to  tlie 
last  breath  of  my  life.  For  I  am  sure  that  she  is  glad 
now,  and  that  she  will  recompense  me  for  defending 
her  cause  against  you." ' 

Father  Vincent  Big(3t  is  succeeded  by  Sebastian 
Easle,  juKjther  of  that  grand  "  Company  of  Jesus."  On 
his  thirty  years'  mission  we  shall  touch  liut  lightly.  In 
1705,  one  Hilton,  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  New  Eng- 
landers,  burnt  the  church  and  vilhige  of  Norridgewock, 
profaned  the  sanctuary,  and  withdrew.  In  1713,  after 
the  peace  of  Utrecht,  some  of  the  chiefs  went  to  Ijostou 
to  hire  Avorkmcn  to  rebuild  their  churcli.  "  I  will  re- 
build it  for  you,"  said  the  governor,  "  if  y(ju  will  dismiss 
your  missionarj^  and  receive  one  whom  I  will  send  you.' 

"  Listen,"  said  the  warrior  in  answer.  "  You  saw 
and  knew  me  long  befi  a'e  the  French,  but  neither  your 
predecessors  nor  your  ministers  over  spoke  t(3  me  of 
prayer  or  of  the  Great  Spirit.     They  saw  my  furs,  my 


'  Rola+ion,  pp.  9,  10. 


IN  North  America. 


177 


beaver,  and  my  moose-skins ;  tlicso  tlic}  son;^lit  alono, 
auJ  HO  eagerly  tliat  I  have  never  been  ablo  to  bring 
them  enough.  Whon  I  had  plenty,  they  were  my 
friends,  and  only  then.  One  day  my  canoe  missed  tho 
route,  and  I  "wandered  a  long  time,  having  lost  my  way. 
At  last  I  landed  near  Quebec,  in  a  great  village  of  Al- 
gouquius,  where  tho  bhu'k-robes  were  teaching.  As 
soon  as  I  had  arrived,  one  of  them  came  to  me.  I  Avas 
loaded  with  furs,  but  tho  black-robe  of  France  dis- 
dained to  look  at  them.  lie  spoke  to  mo  of  the  Gretit 
Spirit,  of  heaven,  of  hell,  of  tho  prayer  wliich  is  tho 
only  way  to  reach  heaven.  I  heard  his  words  with 
pleasure,  and  remained  in  tho  village  near  him.  At 
last,  the  prayer  pleased  mo  and  I  asked  for  instruction. 
Then  I  asked  for  baptism,  and  received  it.  ■'■  "^'  * 
Now  I  hold  to  the  prayer  of  the  French  ;  I  agree  to  it ; 
I  shall  be  faithful  to  it,  until  even  the  earth  is  burnt 
and  destroyed.  Keo])  your  men,  your  gold,  and  }our 
minister.     I  will  go  to  my  French  father."  ' 

For  thirty  years  now,  has  Father  Sebastinii  llaslo 
dwelt  in  the  forest,  teaching  to  its  wild,  red  chiltlron 
the  love  of  God  and  Mtiry.  He  is  burned  by  sun  and 
taiUKid  by  wind  until  ho  is  almost  as  red  as  his  parish- 
ioners. The  languages  of  the  Abenaki  and  Huron, 
tlie  Algompiin  and  Illinois,  are  more  familiar  to  him 
than  the  tongue  in  which  his  mother  taught  him  tho 
Ave  Maria.  The  huts  of  Norridgewock  contain  his 
people ;  the  river  Kennebec  ilows  swiftly  past  iiis  dwell- 


'  Shea's  Missions. 
8* 


178 


Devotion  to  tije  B.  V.  Maiiy 


^^: 


in^,  to  tli('  scii.  Tlicic)  lie  hus  huilt  a  cliuvcili — Ijiuid- 
HOiiK^,  lie  lliiiiks  uiul  Hiiys;  jxii'luips  it  would  not  inudi 
oxi;it(!  our  nioi'.:  luxurious  iiuii;^dnutioii.  At  luiy  vniw, 
tlui  :ilt;ir  is  luuulsouir  ;  aud  lit;  lias  j^utlKTcd  ;i  slor(!  (*f 
c()|K's  iiiid  clia.^uMcs,  ull)S  and  ciubi'ttiiicicd  stolt^s,  I'or 
tlio  dij^iiil  V  ol'  lli(^  lioly  service.  He  has  trained,  also, 
us  nianv  as  I'oiiv  Indian  1><>}S  in  tlu>  (H'i('nH)nies,  und,  in 
tluur  eiinisoii  cassoeks  and  white  surplices,  they  aitl  tlio 
sacred  poiMp.  Jlesidis  tlu!  chui"(;h,  there  ai'i!  two 
chapels,  one  on  tlu;  road  which  h^iids  lo  (he  forest, 
wluue  the  Inaves  are  wont  to  make  a  short  retreat 
before  they  slarL  to  tra[)  and  liunt;  the  other  on  the 
path  lo  the  cnltivateil  lands,  wlu'i'e  prayers  hvc  otlertul 
when  they  n()  to  pkiid,  or  {gather  Iji  the  harvest.  'J'iio 
one  is  dedicated  to  the  Cluardiaii  Au;j;el  of  the  tribe; 
the  other  to  our  most  holy  Mother,  jNLary  .Ininnuailate. 
To  adtnji  (his  latl(a'  is  the  especial  eniulalioii  of  the 
women.  W'liatever  they  have  of  jciwels,  of  silk  stull' 
from  the  settlinients,  or  dedicate  broidery  of  poi'cupiiio 
quill,  or  lichly  tinti'd  moose-liair,  is  found  hen;;  and 
from  amidst  their  o!lerii:_i^s,  rises,  white  and  fair,  the 
statue  of  the  Yiii;in  ;  and  her  sw(H;t  face  looks  down 
boniynantl}  upmi  her  swarthy  children, kneeling  before 
Lor  to  rcicito  tludr  rosaries. 

One  beautiful  inaninuito  ministrant  to  God's  worship 
they  have  in  abundance — light  from  wax  candles.  Tho 
wax  is  not  precisely  aji/'s  ajjiimi,  but  it  is  a  nearer  ap- 
proach to  it  than  ^ou  lind  in  richer  and  less  excusable 
places.  It  is  wax  from  the  berry  of  tho  laurels  which 
cover  tho  bills  of  Maine. 


IN   NOUTII   AMKU[f!A. 


17'J 


And  to  tlic  <'li!ij)('l  (!V(.'ry  iii}^'lit  niid  inoi'iiiii.'L;  coiiic,  ull 
tlm  liidiiiii  (!litist!UiiM.  At  iiioniin,^-  limy  m.ik*;  their 
))r;iy<'i'  i"  coimnoii;  iuid  iissist  at  Mass,  ciinuliiii.j,  in 
llicir  own  dialrci,  liyiiiiis  wi'ittcii  for  llial  |mii|m»sc  l»y 
tli(Mr  )i;isloi'.  'IMicii  llii'V'  '^o  to  tin  ir  ('m|i|(i\  iiKMit  Tor 
tlm  day  :  1h>  to  Ids  (ton  mioiis,  onlci'ly,  and  ('casclrss 
l;il)()r.  TIk'  iiiofidii^'  is  j^iv(!ii  up  to  visitois,  who  cnmo 
to  thi'ii'  j^ood  iatJu^r  witli  ihv'n  sori'ows  oi'  (h^i(iii('tud('s; 
to  ask  his  I'cHcl:'  a.^aiiist  soiii(5  little,  injustice  of  th(^ir 
fellows;  Ids  advi('(!  on  their  iiiarria,L,'e,  or  other  j)roje(;ts. 
Il(!  (ujiisohiS  tins  Olio,  instriKtt.s  liiat ;  i'e-esi;d)lishes 
pcaco  in  disuidtcid  fandlies;  calms  troultleil  consciences ; 
iuliiiinisl((rs  e(;iitlo  i'(n)nk(\  or  eives  eiicour;i;..:ei;i(!nt  to 
tlie  iiiidd.  'riio  al'ternoon  l)elon,^'s  to  the  sick,  who  ai'O 
visited  in  their  own  cahins.  Jl' tlui'e  l»e  a  council,  the 
hhu;k-rob(i  nuist  conic  to  invoke  the  llolv  S[»irit  on 
its  dclilxu'ations  ;  it'  a  I'eust,  ho  must  Ix;  j)res  iit  to  hless 
the  viands  and  to  check  all  approaches  to  disorder. 
And  always  in  tho  aftornooii,  old  and  youn:,'  wairior 
and  gray-hairod  H(iuaw,  Christian  and  ciiiechumen,  as- 
semble I'or  tho  catcHihism.  When  tho  sun  (h^-lines  west- 
ward, and  tho  shadows  cre(!p  ovor  the  vill,i;i;e,  they 
sock  tho  chapid  for  the  public  prayer,  and  to  sing  a 
byinn  to  St.  ]Mary.  Tluai  each  to  his  home  ;  but  bol'ovo 
hcdtinu!  neighbors  gather  ag.ain,  iu  tho  house  of  one  of 
thoui,  and,  in  aiitiphonal  choirs,  they  siiiij  their  beads, 
and  with  another  hymu  thoy  separate  for  sloop.' 


'  Lettro  (lu  R.  P^jro  Sobastian  Raslo,  1722,  tin'e  ila  la  Clioix  dea 
Lettres  cdinantea  ccritus  dea  Miasiona  etrungurca.  Paris,  1809,  vol. 
vii.,  p.  yi}5-413, 


lao 


Devotion  to  tiih  H.  V.  Mauy 


Win  II  tlicy  ^o  to  tlio  H(!!iHi(lo  for  their  fisliliif;,  Iho.y 
bofir  with  tliciii,  ms  wiiiitlcriii}^  Tsnu^l  lioiw!  Ihc  talicr- 
niiclc,  !i  cliMi'cl  foniicd  of  biirlv,  tliut  they  may  liavc^  tlio 
consolations  (»!'  rrlioion,  wliilo  exposed  to  (laii;^tr  and 
tomptation.  And  intw  eoiiipai'o  this  picturis  of  the 
prof^a'c'ss  of  (h'voiiou  to  Our  Lady,  with  a!iy  nmrch  of 
IVotestanlisiu  aniou;^  the  Indians.  Head  the  rreneh 
Catholic's  nussioii  to  the  Alj^onijuin,  Al)eiiaki,  llui-on, 
and  Iro([Uois;  or,  in  our  own  day,  to  the  Kuw,  the 
Osage,  and  the  Fiathcs-id  ;  and  the  work  of  Protestant 
England  or  the  United  States  among  the  SeniiiKjlciS, 
the  Pottowattoniies,  or  the  Pueblos.  One  carries  tho 
beads,  paritj',  and  eivili/aiion;  tho  other  a  whiskey 
bottle,  deiilement,  and  death.  Quo,  thing,  in  a  n-li- 
gious  way,  tho  descendant  of  the  Puritan  is  pretty  apt 
to  do — namely,  to  attempt  the  destruction  of  his  neigh- 
bor's religion.  Boston  contributes  a  minister  to  cilect, 
if  possible,  this  end,  e\on  ii  tho  wilds  of  Maine  a 
hundred  years  ago.  lie  reai'hes  tho  mouth  of  tho 
Kennebec,  and  building  a  scluol-house  th(>re,  docs  hi^; 
best  to  entice  the  childrtm  to  it  by  presents  and 
caresses.  This  failing,  ho  attempts  their  parents,  and 
smiflles  out  to  them  nasal  denunciations  of  tho  Sacra- 
ments, purgatory,  invocation  of  Saints,  tho  beads,  tho 
cross,  tho  altar  lights,  and  images.  Then  Father 
Kasle,  from  his  lodge,  leagues  away  in  the  forest, 
writes  him  a  Latin  letter,  sixty-two  pages  of  it,  full  of 
instruction  on  these  topics,  and  of  charitable  recom- 
mendation to  let  tho  Lidians  alone.  And  the  divine 
replies,  swiftly,  that  the  arguments  arc  chikli.sh;  and  so 


IN   NoilTII   A.MKUICA. 


181 


wonds  l);u'1c  to  r)Osl()ii  to  inform  tlio  rinpjnst  conumiiiity 

tluiVl!  of  how  lu)  ll.'ul  IxM'll  [)(!rH('l!Ut(!(l  1)J  tlio  Jt'Huits. 

So,  in  17'22,  Xorriil;^'(nvoc!k  wuh  fittjiclutl  by  u  force  of 
two  lmii(lr(!(l  and  fifty  N(!W  EiigliimlrrH,  for  after  tlio 
wurbrokoont  the.  AlKuiMki  jullicrcd  to  tlio  rnincli  Ciitli- 
olic,  rather  than  to  tin;  Kn<^'lisU  rnrit.-ni.  A  few  old 
men,  wonuMi,  and  cliildrrn  only  w«'ro  iji  tlu^  villntfo  ;  but 
tlic  PiU'ilMns  Wi'vo.  ixUov  llic  pri(  st.  Tic  h.ul  time  to 
eonsiuiie  the  sacred  hosts  in  tlio  talxmaclc.  and  to 
cscjipe  on  his  snow-slioes.  Jlut  they  i)il!a^('d  iho 
clnirch  and  his  lodj^'e,  and  eavriid  ofl' every  thin'',  eve; 


o> 


n 


to  hi-^  inkstand.     They  still  show  with  pride,  in  TTar- 
VMvd  (V>ll(\'A'e,  his  mannscript  Abenaki  dictionary,  ni,"do 


wi 


h  such  lon^'  toil    and    patience*,    an<l   bravely    c 


on- 


([uered  by  two  hnndred  and  lll'ty  advancers  of  eivili/a- 
tion  from  an  old  ecclesiastic  and  a  handful  of  scpniws 
find  ])a[)ooses.  Father  JIaslo  had  broken  both  le;^s 
some  time  before,  and  yet  ho  refused  to  leave;  the  main 
hand  of  his  people,  following  them  abont  wherever  the 
]iecessiti<>s  of  Avarfare  chanced  to  lead  them.  Tho  New 
Englanders  never  relaxed  their  elforts  to  catch  Father 
Sebastian,  for  in  him  they  saw  the  sonl  of  the  Indiana. 
Accnstoined  themselves  to  dcsify  their  own  popnlar 
leaders,  till  they  tired  of  thoni,  they  fancied  that  the 
stre'j^th  of  the;  riul-man  lay  not  in  the  Catholic  I'aith, 
but  in  the  talents  of  the  priest. 

Him,  at  all  hazards,  tiu>y  mnst  have  ;  and  triumphant 
success  erowni'd  their  eil'orts  in  1721.  It  was  on  t.he 
feast  of  St.  Baithoiomew  the  Apostle.  Au;, ust  the 
twenty-fourth,  that  a  band  of  Mohawkb  and  New  Eut^- 


182 


DrVOTION  TO  THE  U.  V.  INrAiiY 


■# 


lisli  Imist  upon  ilic  town  of  llio  ()\V('n!i;j;nii;,'(i.  Tim 
women  i'IhI  cliildrcn  lied  ;  u  I'rw  }oun^  briivcH  m'Iio 
W(n'(!  in  llii  vill;i^'(!  cun^^lit  np  lluir  iirniH  to  wiflistand 
tlui  cnciiiv.  J'lit  I'cfon'  tlicy  conlil  !)(«  nlain,  llic  priest, 
n'nicnilu'i'in;^  tliosci  words  ol'  our  di'iir  Lord,  "  Hdiuim 
pris/or  iiin'iiiiiiit  siidiii  iliil  pro  nrlhi's  .sii!s,^  tiic  ;^'ood  hIm'])- 
Iwril  <^i\t'tli  liis  life  t'oi-  Ids  slicop,"  .'iiid  knowinj^  lunisclf 
to  1)0  tlir  I'cid  oltjt'ct  of  t\u'  (itt.ick,  adviUUM'd  to  meet 
Ins  foes.  Tlit'V  s;nv  luni  just  jis  Ik!  rcaclicd  Hk;  villa^'o 
cross.  A  yell  of  savui^o  exultation,  n  volley  of  bullets, 
and  tlin  missionary  lay  di^ad  at  the  foot  of  Iho  synd)ol 
of  salvation. 

Half  a  century  later,  tho  desec^ndanls  of  tliese  men 
wore  asking  tlio  fii(Midsliip  of  the  Oweiiagunga  against 
th(!  arms  of  CJreat  I'litaln.  The  Kennobocs,  Passaina- 
quoddit'S,  and  Penohscots  nn;t  tho  Council  of  Massa- 
chus(^tts,  and  expressed  their  determination  to  esjjouse 
the  cause  of  tho  colonies,  l)ut  added  :  "AVe  must  have  a 
French  hhuik-roho  ;  wo  will  have  no  '  Praytir'  that 
comes  from  you."  Orono,  tho  Penobscot  chief,  bore  a 
commission  in  the  armv  of  the  Revolution,  and  his 
clansnK'U  I'ou^^ht  beside  him.  "If  one  of  our  'pricsls 
would  be  agreeable  to  you,  wo  will  endeavor  to  get 
you  one,  and  tak(!  caro  ho  bo  a  good  man.  Such  was 
the  offer  of  the  Council ;  but  the  answer  of  tho  Abenaki 
was  still,  "  We  know  our  religion,  and  love  it ;  we  know 
nothing  of  3'ou  or  yours."  Thus  faithful  to  tho  teach- 
ings  which    they  had  received  in    1G50,   these    truo 


'  St.  John's  Gospol,  x.  14. 


V, 


IN  NoiiTir  Amruica. 


183 


Aniorican  CntliolicH  coiitimiod  to  (ilicn'Hli  it,  hy  rosnry, 
and  (inuiifix,  and  oiiriuist  prayor,  until  tlic^y  carritMl  tlio 
crosH  wlii(tli  Futlior  Kaslo  had  worn,  to  IJishop  Carroll 
(it  Daltiinoro,  and  hy  it,  d(!inand«!d  a  pastor  of  tho  truo 
fiiitli. 
Wo  Hlifdl  800  thoao  faitliful  rod-raon,  briefly,  again. 


184 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


CHArTEll  IX. 

The    I">evotion    in  tiik  Statk  of  Ni:\v   Youk — Tiik  Saint  op  tiik  Mo- 
iiAwivS — Saint  Maijy  amonu  tiik  htoijuoia. 


BiiAVF.ST,  li.'iup;hliost,  li.'uulsomost,  most  advontnrons 
of  all  Norlli  Anu'vic.'Ui  abori<ifinos,  wore  the  flans  of  tlio 
warrior  Ii'ocjuois.  The  torritorj'  ■wliitdi  tli(-y  ihvolt  in 
was  sumll,  when  eonqjarocl  with  the  vast  circle  travelled 
over  by  the  noinad  AlgoiKpiii,  or  the  liinilh^ss  pj-airies 
of  the  luouuted  Daeotah.  The  State  of  New  York, 
Avith  the  neighboring  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
lield  them  all.  rroin  the  wide  St.  Lawrence,  they 
swept  along  the  southern  shores  of  Erie  and  Ontuvio, 
to  the  yidl.jw  waters  of  the  IJeautiful  llivrr.  Amid  the 
forests,  by  the  clear  bhie  mountain  streams  of  New 
York,  stood  the  towns  of  the  tall,  spare  Seneca,  the 
Cayuga  and  Onondaga,  the  beautiful  Oneida  and  the 
merciless  Mohawk, 

To  white  man  and  Indian  they  were  a  terror  and  a 
fate.  The  far  Natchez  had  felt  tiieir  tomahawk,  bv  the 
winding  ]\[ississippi.  At  the  etdio  of  their  wild  war-cry 
the  heart  of  the  Frenchman  stopped  beating  within  tho 
palisades  of  Quebec.  They  slew  the  wandering  Algon- 
quin on  the  edge  of  the  Chesapeake,  or  caught  him  as 
he  fled  on  his  sinew-woven  snow-shoes ,  and  crimsoned 


i'  * 


■»■■ 


IN  North  Aj^rcnicA. 


185 


tliG  wliitc  wastos  of  Ciinada  wiHi  liis  blood.  Tlioy  wore 
a  (Irc.'ul  to  tlu!  AViiniobii^o,  alt:lioiiji;li  Lake.  jNIiclii^an 
rolled  Ix'twcou  tliem  ;  to  the  Chippewa  and  Menonie- 
uce,  altliou^t^li  tlioir  caiioos  rultnl  tlio  waters  of  Superior. 
Tliey  chascMl  the  unfortunate  Huron  from  tlio  fur-lined 
sopnlclu'e  of  liis  falliers,  and  drove  westward  the  poor 
rcnni.uits  of  that  sliattered  tribe,  as  the  wind  of  the 
iuilnnai  drives  the;  Usavtjs  of  the  forest. 

For  their  savaijje  virtues  w(n'e  all  nullified  by  thoir 
jinuieasurablc  barbai'ity.  AYe  havo  hoard  of  indi- 
viduals in  other  races,  wlioso  erueltv  won  for  th(MU  a 
h;id  distinetion,  but  here  was  a  nation,  fj'oni  the  hum- 
hlest  of  whom  the  historic  tvrant  nii'jht  learn  his  art. 
In  stealth  thoy  were  like  serpents ;  in  sl.dceless  blood- 
thirst  they  were  tigers.  The  Hunm  liadiio  other  name 
for  tlieni  than  A^a.ifo-  JT'ssio/wx — the  Cruel.  These  wore 
tlie  (Mieniies  of  Cartier  and  Champlain  ;  these  were  an 
incarnate  and  eeas(d(>ss  terror  to  tlie  rising  colonies  of 
Quebec  and  Montreal.  They  were  Irocpiois  arrows 
Mhicli  (piivored  throup;li  tlio  palisades  of  tho  fort ;  an 
Iroquois  torch  bnmght  tlu>  new  niission-houso  to  ashes  ; 
an  Iroquois  tomahawk  sent  tlio  first  jiriests  to  heaven. 
Their  nsimo  is  tho  one  terrible  word  in  all  the  early 
writings,  in  tho  letters  of  Mary  of  tho  Incarnati(m,  of 
Marguerite  of  Our  Lady,  of  tho  Jesuit  relations,  of  the 
Virgin  s  knight,  ^Maisonneuvo.  Priest  and  laborcn',  nun 
and  warrior,  wound  up  tlie  tale  of  their  hardship  with 
horror  for  tho  Iroquois.  Yet  into  tho  inner  tent  of 
that  fierce  people  a  ray  from  tlio  loving  lioart  of  Mary 
shouo  at  last ;  thoy  learned  to  bush  tlio  war- whoop  and 


18G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


to  slio.itli  tlie  scalping-knifo  in  honor  of  lior  name  ; 
and  in  a  Moluiwk  village  wlncli  reeked  ^vith  Christian 
gore,  grew  as  sweet  and  gentle  a  flower  oi'  holiness  as 
ever  hloonied. 

Always  at  vindictive  war  with  the  Canadian  Indians, 
the}'  turned  their  ire  upon  the  French  when  those  niado 
friends  with  the  Algoncpiin  and  the  Wendat.  Tliev  at- 
tacked the  very  forts  of  the  settlors;  they  waylaid  their 
voyagers.  Beaten  oftt.Mi,  punished  as  well  as  tlie  sjnall 
force  of  the  Europeans  would  allow,  they  returned  witli 
redoubled  fury.  Champlain  and  others  chased  thciii 
into  their  own  country,  iired  their  villages,  and  I'cduccMi 
them  for  a  time.  They  would  make  peace  with  tlio 
white  man  and  bury  the  hatchet ;  but,  dug  up  again  lio- 
fore  the  blood  had  well  dried  upon  the  blade,  it  flamoil, 
hungry  for  murder,  in  the  clutch  of  the  treacherons 
savaijfe.  A  favorite  method  of  f<n'ay  was  the  wa  via  vim' 
of  Huron  or  French  parties  as  they  passed  from  Mon- 
treal or  Quebec  to  tlu^  Mission  on  the  distant  lakes. 

But  the  cr<:)ss  was  to  be  planted  among  even  tlio 
sanguinary  Iroquois,  and  the  mode  chosen  ])\  God's 
wisdom  was  as  follows.  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1014, 
Father  Isaac  Jogues,  who  Inid  been  laboring  for  years 
on  the  shores  of  Huron  and  Superior,  descended  to 
Quebec  accompanied  by  a  train  of  Indians.  Twenty- 
three  in  number  they  started  from  the  Mission  of  8t, 
Mary's,  in  ''lie  Huron  country,  and  in  thirteen  diip 
reached  the  colony  of  the  Coiiception  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  at  Three  lUvers.  And  from  this  j>lace  he  was 
returning   to   Saint   Mary's,  the   canoes   hugging  the 


IN  North  America. 


187 


shore  to  avoid  the  strong  current  of  the  stream,  when 
Huddenly  the  warwhoop  of  the  fatal  Iro({uois  rang 
through  tlie  air  and  a  hail  of  inuskot-balls  rattled  about 
them.  The  pagan  Indians  leaped  at  once  from  the 
cHiioe  ;  but  the  Jesuit,  with  the  three  Frenelimen  and 
the  few  ChristiaTi  savages  Avith  him,  "offered  up  a 
pra}'er  to  Christ  and  faced  the  enenij'."  '  But  already, 
tit  the  first  whistlhig  of  the  balls,  a  catechumen  had 
thrown  himself  upon  his  knees  in  the  canoe,  and  the 
fearless  pritsst  had  ba[)tized  him.  They  fought,  some 
cloz(>n  of  them,  but  the  Iroquois  were  seventy  in 
nnrabcr.  The  missionary  did  not  oven  try  to  escape. 
Eeue  Goupil,  whom  we  have  mentioned,  was  taken, 
f5"-li[ing  like  a  lion.  TJie  next  brought  in  was  a 
famous  Christian  chief,  Ahasistari,  who  cried,  "  Did 
I  not  swear,  my  father,  to  live  or  die  witli  thee  !" 
Finally,  a  young  Frenchman,  AYilliam  Couture,  who  had 
escaped,  came  back  and  gave  h.'mself  up,  saying,  "  J 
cannot  abandon  my  dear  father."  This  heroism  won 
him  the  honor  of  instant  torture  ;  they  stripped  him  at 
once ;  thev  tore  his  nails  awav,  crushed  his  lingei's  with 
their  teeth,  and  ran  a  sword  througli  his  right  hand. 

The  same  treatment  was  then  given  to  Father 
Jognes  and  Goupil.  But  we  will  recite  no  more  of 
these  brutal  tortures  here.  As  they  treated  Breboeuf, 
so  they  treated  these,  not  once,  but  twenty  times,  stop- 
phig  shoi't  only  of  death  for  the  present.  Whenever 
they  rested,  on   their  long  journey   of  thirteen  days, 


'  Luttredu  Pere  Isaac  Joi^'ucs  uu  P.  Provincial  de  la  Province  do 
France;  apad  Kclatiou  abrcgco  de  P.  Brcssaui,  pp.  18y-2'10. 


188 


Devotion  to  the  13.  V.  Mary 


torture  w.as  tlie  amnscmcut  of  tlioir  captors ;  whenever 
tliey  met  anotlier  roving  band  of  savages,  and  tlio 
forests  were  full  of  tliem,  the  torture  of  their  vi  -titns 
was  the  fejist  to  which  they  Avelconied  tlunn.  Tv.intj- 
two  in  number,  they  filed  off  from  the  battlo-groviiid, 
and  tramped  sadly  through  the  Avoods  on  their  way  to 
the  towns  of  the  Mohawk.  Through  the  avoous  to  tlui 
beautiful  lakes  Champlain  and  Horicon,  and  then-o, 
past  Saratoga,  across  the  country  to  the  Mohawl-. 
The  last  ionv  miles  they  marched  on  foot,  cai'rying  all 
the  baggage  of  their  masters,  covered  Avith  putrei'yiii;^' 
woimds,  unfed  save  by  the  berries  Avhich,  Avith  mati- 
lated  hands,  they  caught  from  the  bushes  on  the  road- 
side. But,  "  at  last,"  says  the  servant  of  Mary,  "  on  the 
eve  of  the  Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  Ave  ;u- 
rlA'ed  at  the  first  village  of  the  Iroquois.  And  I  thank 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  that  He  thus  deigned  to  "rant 
us  a  sliarc  in  His  sorroAvs  and  His  cross,  on  the  day 
whereon  tl.ie  Christian  universe  celebrates  th(;  triumpli 
of  His  sacred  Mother  taken  up  into  heaven." 

ThcA^  entered  the  toAvn  of  the  barbarians  V)y  numiiig 
the  irauntlet, — Jogues  comforted  as  he  Avent  "hv  :i 
vision  of  the  glory  of  the  Queen  of  Heavo7i,"  '  Tlu>u 
on  to  another  villag(%  and  so  to  a  third,  ti'acdcieg  tlio 
Avhole  land  Avith  their  blood  ;  the  «Tesuit  ollering  up  his 
agonies  to  God,  instructing  his  Huron  neophytes  whoii- 
CA'er  ho  could  get  beside  them,  as  Avatchful  and  as  ready 
for  his  duties  as  a  priest,  as  if  Avithin  the  Avails  of  a 


'  Bancroft's  History  Unitud  Status,  vol.  iii.,  p.  VM. 


IN  NoiiTii  America. 


189 


parish  clmrch  in  Franco.  Ho  li(>ars  Gonpil's  confession 
as  tlioy  drug  tlioir  woaiy  limbs  tlirongh  tli(>  forest ;  lie 
baptizes  two  pleading  neopln'tes  as  they  wado  tlirough 
a  woodland  stream ;  lie  wrings  the  rain-drops  from  a 
stalk  of  corn  and  confers  upon  two  ctliers  tlie  sacra- 
meut  of  regeneration.  Thus,  in  constant  torture  and 
prayer,  ho  lingered  until  the  Feast  of  the  Xativity  of 
the  Elossed  Virgin  brought  him  hope.  Two  Hollanders 
from  Albany  arrived  to  treat  for  his  deliverance,  which 
was  etreeted,  however,  only  in  the  summer  of  tho  next 
year.  Cut  before  that,  he  had  seen  his  friends  fall, 
one  by  one ;  the  Huron  chief  praying  at  tho  stake  for 
liis  enemies;  Goupil  tomahawked  at  tho  thirty-ninth 
"Hail  Mary"  of  tho  Iiosary  ;  blood,  death,  horror, 
demon-worship  around  him. 

His  Breviary  had  long  since  been  taken  from  him, 
but  he  had  found,  from  time  to  time,  fragments  of  his 
Bible,  the  Imitation  of  Christ,  and  the  Little  OlHee  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin.  How  often  did  ho  sit  thus  "by 
tho  waters  of  Babylon,  and  weep  as  ho  renunubcrod 
Zion !"  ^  "  How  often,"  he  exclaims,  "  did  I  carve  Thy 
Name,  0  Jesus!  upon  tho  tall  trees  of  the  forest! 
How  often,  stri})ping  o(V  the  bark,  have  I  trailed  there 
the  most  holy  cross  of  my  God !"  See  him  kneeling 
there,  half  clad  with  skins,  and  meditating  on  the  life 
of  his  Piodeemer ;  or  watch  his  lips  as  they  move  in 
the  recitation  of  tho  only  ollice  left  him ;  Iioav  his  voice 
lowered  at  tho  last  Tu  anion  Domine,  miserere  nobis, 


'  Psalm,  cxxxvi.  1. 


190 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


'I 


gathers  shengtli  again,  and  breaks  forth  in  the  anti- 
phon,  "  FcUx  uainqHc  cs,  tidvrn  Vinjo  Murid,  cl  onim  Inndc 
digitiy.srma  :  <juia  ex  h-  orfifs  csf  Sul  Jns/i/i(i,  Clirviim  Doifi 
■nodcr !  Blessed  art  tliou  and  wortliy  of  all  praise,  0 
sacred  Virgin  Mary,  for  from  thee  rose  the  Sim  of 
Righteousness,  even  Christ  our  God!"  Thus  did  he 
teach  the  aisles  of  the  New  York  forests  to  resound,  for 
the  first  time,  with  the  sweet  and  holy  name  of  Mary. 

When,  after  a  year's  endurance  of  captivity,  he  was 
released  bv  the  kind  offices  of  the  Hollanders,  he  had 
baj^tized  no  less  than  xi'indy  persons — some  ca])tiv('s 
and  some  converts.  They  get  him  a  passnge  from 
Now  York  to  England,  and  a  collier  carries  him  thence 
and  lands  him,  barefooted  and  in  tattered  sailor's  dress, 
on  the  coast  of  Brittany.  Ho  approach(>s  a  peas- 
ant's hous(_\  and  they  rise  to  receive  the  forlorn  sailor 
kindly;  tlieii  he  lifts  up  his  pocn*  nnililat(>d  hands  and 
blesses  them  in  the  nann;  of  the  Eternal.  What  slinll 
he  do  with,  these  hands'?  A  priest  with  but  one  thumb 
and  ionv  or  live  lingers  left  him!  C(mrage,  Confessor 
of  God  ;  the  Holy  Father,  Turban  VIIL,  will  settle  that. 
"  Indujninri"  he  exclaims,  "  i)/di(jiu(iii  esse  ('Inisti  iiKivhj- 
ri'iii,  Cliristi  7U»i  Inbi'ir,  sdiupiincut  !  It  Avere  unjust  that 
the  martyr  of  Clirist  sliould  not  drink  the  blood  of 
Christ !"  So  the  dispensation  is  gi-anted.  All  throng 
to  do  him  honor  ;  great  nobles  vie  in  offering  him 
their  services ;  prelates  throw  open  their  palaces ;  the 
lips  of  tlie  stately  Anne  of  Austria,  the  Queen  of  fair 
France,  are  reverently  pressed  to  those  deformed  and 
mangled  hands.     But  his  place  is  not  hero.    AAvay, 


mmmtitt 


IN  North  Amkrica 


im 


m 


tlioiisaTids  of  inilos,  it  lies,  Avlioro  tlio  Hudson  and  tlie 
Mobawk  iniiijj,io  their  clear  waters  beneath  the  shadow 
of  tlio  iiumemorial  woods.   ' 

In  tlio  month  eonseernted  to  his  beloved  heavenly 
Queoii,  he  left  his  eountrj-  f(n-  the  1  time,  and  arrived 
just  soon  enough  to  see  a  peace  concluded  Avitli  the 
Iroquois.  They  asked  for  "black-robes,"  and  liis  su- 
periors oilered  Father  .Toques  the  mission,  "lies,"  he 
said,  "  I  shall  go,  and  I  shall  not  return ;  Iho  d  nan  rcdiho; 
hilt  I  Avill  1)0  happy  if  our  Lord  Avill  compl(3to  the  sacri- 
fice where  he  has  begun  it,  and  make  the  little  blood  I 
have  shed  in  that  land  the  earnest  of  Avhat  I  would 
give  fi'oui  every  vein  of  my  body  and  my  heart."  '  The 
siicriiico  was  accepted.  He  and  Father  Jean  do  La- 
lande  departed  with  the  treacherous  Irocpaois.  The 
V(>rv  dav  of  tlu'ir  arrival  the  savages  began  to  threaten 
them.  The  next  dav  thev  tomahawked  them  at  the 
door  of  a  lodge  ;  their  heads  were  stuck  upon  the  pali- 
sades of  the  town  ;  their  bodies  were  thrown  into  the 
MohaAvk. 

But  he  had  not  died  in  vain.  Two  churches  of  St. 
Mary"  stand  upon  the  shores  of  that  beautiful  river  ; 
the  Arch  Confraternity  of  her  ImmacuLito  Heart  is 
estabhshed  in  the  principal  town  bathed  by  its  Avaters.^ 
For  the  beautiful  tloAver  of  devotion  to  Mary  had  been 


'  Letter  to  a  Mend,  in  Slica'^t  Narriitivo  of  Civptivity. 

'  At  Anistonlaiu  aiid  Little  Falls.  Tlie  place  itsoll'  is  now  Tribes 
Hill,  just  opposite  to  the  contiuenco  of  Schoharie  Creek  with  the 
Mohawk. 

=  Utica. 


102 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


•;■;■«.., 


snvcly  plautcMl  by  Fiitlicr  Jc)gu(^s,  mul  nui'turcd  witl. 
his  tt'iirs  iind  Mood  in  tlic  wootlliuids  of  New  Yorli, 
wlu!ii  lie  kiuH'](^l  to  say  jier  ollico  iit  tlio  foot  of  tlio 
cross  tiiiced  by  his  fiuslicd  Jiiij^'crs  on  t-lu'  tiunk  of  tlic 
miiple.  "Jlcd/d  Del  G'licli'ix  Maria,"  lie  had  said 
again  and  again  in  his  agony,  "  Mkjh  pcjidnii,  fcin- 
'pluin  Jhnjiiin,  .^acrarhnn  SpiriliiiS  iSa/tvli,  tio'a  ,sinc  e,v- 
e)iiiiJ<i  j^'^(i<'H(^ti  Dtiiniito  Xih4i'o  Jcsn  CJirislv ;  ora  pro 
i:i(ij.'ulo  ;  Inhrcciti  pro  cJvro  ;  iiilcrccde  pro  dvcolo  j'a'iid- 
nco  sc.v)'.  BIc'sscmI  ]Man',  IMoUu'r  of  God,  cxcv  a  Vir- 
gin, Teniplu  of  the  Lord,  d\velling-pla(;o  of  tho  Holy 
Ghost ;  thou  only,  without  t'xainpl(>,  hast  Leon  found 
pleasing  to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  pray  for  the  peo- 
ple ;  intervene  for  the  clergy ;  intercede  for  Holy 
■women." '     And  Mary  heard  hiui. 

Altliongli  the  tribes  upon  whose  heads  his  blood  had 
fallen  Were  fiercer  and  haughtier  than  ever,  yet  the 
day  was  to  come  Avhen  the  hnees  of  the  Iroijuois  should 
bend  in  prayer  to  a  saint  of  their  own  race  and  nation. 
At  present,  supplied  by  the  Dutch  and  English  with 
arms,  they  spread  the  fames  of  war  ovi!r  the  land. 
They  destroyed,  as  we  have  seen,  the  Hurons.  They 
drove  tla^  northern  Algoncpiins  from  tins  shores  of  the 
lakes,  and  slmv  the  French  and  their  allii's  uiuh'r  the 
very  walls  of  Quebec.  Then,  weary  of  the  wai'-path, 
they  themselves  asked  for  peace.  And  the  heralds  of 
this  peace  were  those  whose  "  footsteps  are  beautiful 
upon    tho   mountains ;    who   publish   glad   tidings   of 


'  Anliphon  iu  Little  Office  of  13.  V.  M. 


IN  Noivrn  Ameuica. 


193 


good."'  Fiitlior  Cliaumonot  asseniLlcil  tliu  Onoiulu- 
gas  in  tlio  chief  town  of  their  ])e()ph',  on  the  Oswego  ; 
received  from  tlio  nation  a  site  for  a  mission-house, 
and  connneneed  hin  labors  by  tho  baptism  of  a  poor 
captive  woman  of  tho  Eries,  and  an  explanation  of  tho 
loading  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  The  red-men  received 
his  message  with  s(jngs  of  joy,  and  the  council  gave 
permission  to  preach  Christianity  in  all  their  villages. 
Soon  after,  one  thousand  Onondaga  braves  weie  to 
meet  four  thousand  Eries  in  fight;  and  they  vowed, 
lilce  Clovis,  the  Frank,  of  old,  that  if  tlie  (lod  of  tliu 
Christians  would  give  thern  tho  victory,  they  would 
thenceforth  serve  him  alone.  Tliey  drove  the  Erierf 
lilce  deer  from  before  them;  and  though  many  were 
false  to  their  vow,  yet  a  goodly  number  sought  in- 
struction, and  became  the  first-fruits  of  the  warrior 
Iroquois.  In  November,  luol],  tho  back  walls  of  St. 
Mary's  church  arose,  and  the  dread  sacrilice  of  the 
Mass  consecrated  the  land  to  its  Maker.  By  the  Oc- 
tave of  the  Virgin's  Nativity,  1G5G,  the  back  ^\  alls  were 
exchanged  for  stone,  and  daily  devotions  to  ?ilary  Im- 
maculate were  paid  in  that  first  church  of  Ncav  York, 
Our  Lady's  of  Ganentaa. 

Tho  same  year  saw  Father  Ilcue  Menard  standing  at 
the  altar  of  a  little  chapel  among  the  Cayugas,  between 
pictures  of  our  Lord  and  His  Blessed  Mother,  and  ex- 
plaining their  signilicanco  by  the  legend  of  man's  re- 


'  Quani  pulclivi  suiht  niontcs   pedes  nnniiiitiaiitis  et  pntdicautia 
pacem  uiimintiiiutia  bouuiii,  I'.i'tcdicuutis  salutuiu. — Ibiiias,  lii.  7. 
>f  9 


194 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  "Mauy 


(lcin])ti()n.  'rii(>  f^rciit  allios  of  tlio  nii.s,sionavi(>a  woro 
tho  caplivc  Huron  avohumi,  iiiaiiy  iiiiiiri(!il  now  to  Iro- 
quois warriors.  Tiicy  hronjijit  their  l)al»rs  for  bap- 
tism; tluv  iiislnu'tcd  tlicir  paf^^•lll  nt'i;j,iil)ors,  whom 
the}'  ('(litlt  il  l»y  their  Airtiies;  "and  in  ahuost  every 
oabiii  eoiild  be  found  an  Indian  moth.ev  teaeldn;^' 
lier  wayward  child  to  hsp  a  prayer  to  Jesus  and 
Mary." ' 

But  (he  (h'Uiou  Ljrew  ?;trong  again.  TIk^  war  Avas  re- 
newed ;  llie  missionaries  were  driven  away  or  tied; 
and,  by  the  entl  of  1(I">8,  not  a  j)riest  was  left  in  tho 
Iro(piois  territoiT.  lUit  the*  converted  Indians,  nota- 
bly tlie  grand  statesman  and  noble  warrior  (laracontie, 
had  bei'U  at  work  ;  and  thi'  missionaries  were  ini[)lored 
to  return  to  Onondiiga.  So,  with  nnieh  hd)or  and  in- 
terruption, the  holy  toil  W(>nt  forward  until,  in  KSl'.S, 
tlicy  had  once  more  renewed  their  foothold  throughout 
the  eant.»ns;  and,  in  1(170,  the  first  day  of  the  Octave 
of  tlu!  Aiuiuiicialion  of  Our  Lady,  the  worship  of  the 
demon  Areskoui  and  other  pagan  superstitions  -were 
renounced  and  solemnly  condemned.  But  the  English 
were  by  this  time  in  New  York,  ■with  the  energetic 
Dongan  as  tlieir  governor,  and  the  missionaries  to  tho 
Iroquois  were  Frenchmen.  Intrigues  were  commenc(!d 
Vvfitli  the  Indians  ;  the  servants  of  Mary  were  driven 
from  the  country ;  and,  by  l(i87,  not  one  remained. 
Then  the  Catholics  of  the  Five  Nations  went  over  and 
joined   the   French ;    and    though    the   missions   were 


'  Shea's  Missions,  p.  233. 


IN  NoiiTii  Ameiiica. 


105 


ro-estiiblislunl  l'onrl(H'ii  yeurs  iiftonvards,  it  \v;is  only 
to  lin<^(!r  out  11  ])aiiil'iil  cxistciu'i* ;  iiiul  rutlicr  !\r!ir(uii], 
tlu)  last  Jesuit  ill  Xou  York,  left  tlio  desolated  liarvoHt- 
lield  ol'  tlio  Ir(.)quois  just  sixty-aoveu  years  after  Joguoa 
had  llist  emielied  it  with  his  tears  and  Mood. 

Lut  altiiou^^h  tho  il(>ld  was  laid  waste,  the  IViiit  had 
been  ^athercHl.  In  thirty-fivo  years  from  tlie  cipturo 
of  Father  Jo^'ues,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
twenty-live  Iroquois  were  ha^jtized  nniny  cldldren, 
but  man}'  noble  women  and  tho  choic(^  of  tlie  s.-ieheiiis 
and  orators.     Garacoiitle,  "  th(!   advaneinix  Sun,"  tin; 


gi- 


andest  statesman  of  tho  Five  Xaticms,  th(>  bidwarh 


of  Christianity  for  a  (juiirter  of  a  eentury  ;  lie  who  cried 
out,  before  he  diiMl,  as  he  eovei'ed  with  hisses  a  ]»i('ture 
of  our  Lord,  "Jesus  borji  of  a  Yir;j;in,  tliou  art  ])eerless 


m 


beauty;  grant  that  wi-  may  sit  near  thee  in  lieave 


Kryn,  the  high  ehiei  of  th(>  ^lohawks,  wlio,  when  his 
tribe  would  not  listen  to  his  ph^adings,  raisinl  his  wild 
war-cry  for  the  last  thno  in  tlie  streets  of  his  village; 
gathered  forty  devoted  followers,  and,  hneeling  down 
amid  the  graves  of  their  fathers,  poured  forth  a  prayer 
for  his  nation;  then  rose,  and,  with  streaming  (>yes,  led 
Lis  braves  away  forever  from  tho  fires  of  their  peoph^ 
to  the  Christian  settlement  at  La  Prairie.  Catherine 
Gannealctena,  the  Erie  by  birth,  the  Oneida  by  adop- 
tion, tlie  foundress  of  La  Prairie  on  the  banks  of  tlio 
St.  Lawrence.  Mary  Tsawente,  "  the  Precious,"  the 
saint  of  the  Onondagas.  Stephen  te  Gannonakoa,  who 
sulfored  purely  for  tlu*  faith,  and  was  cut  to  pie(!es 
almost  with  knives  before  they  threw  him  into  the  fire. 


19fl 


Di;voTioN  TO  TFir,  ]3.  V.  ^Fary 


OunOKHilmiv,  tlio  wnr-cliicf  of  the  Cjiyiifi-f^H,  wlio,  wlion 
listening,'  on  liis  dcnth-lxMl  tf)  (ho  story  of  tlio  Passion, 
cricil  out,  liko  (Movis,  "()!i,  liml  I  liccii  tluMO,  tlicy 
1(1  so  lidvc  trciitcd  ijiyGoiI!"  FraiieoH  (Juii- 


110V(U'  \VOlll 


noiili.'ifcii.'i,  \vli(»,  when  u  biU-barouH  kiiisniaii  tovo  the 
cvuciHx  fi'om  licr  neck,  as  slio  stood  lioniid  totlin  stako, 
d  ^'aslicil  a  t'l'oss  upon  licr  bared  l)os(jm  Avitli  his 


an 


8t'a]niii;(-l<iiif(',  said  :  "T  thank  th('(>,  my  hrotlu'r  ;  tlioii 
liast  j^ivcn   im(>   a  ci-oss  whicli   iionc^  can   tako  awaj*." 


u'sc,  am 


Tl 


the  Ii 


1  nianv  another  Hko  them,  form  tho  crown  of 


h 


ro([ui)is  missionary  in  lieaven. 
But,  hvit;'htest   and   swoeti-st  th)wer  in   the  Tiid 


i;ni 


coronal    of    ^lary,  was 
"Saint  of  tlio  Iroquois." 


Catl 


icrino    To-'ahkouita,    t! 


ho 


Her  fntliev  a  ^fohawk  chief,  her  mother  an  Ah 


•on- 


qnin  cMpiive,  tliis  holy  ^"irl  was  hoi'ii  in  '\^\')i^,  in  the 
town  Avh(>nco  Kone  Gonpil  and  .Faili(M'  Isaac  Jo^ui^s 
had  ascendo(l,  hy  mart^'rdoni,  to  their  rest.  Tlie  siii;dl- 
pox,  which   made  1 


ler  !r>   orT)nan 


.h 


at  tl 


i(>  niro  o 


f  f. 


0\U' 


years,  had  also  injui'od  her  sii^ht ;  a;id.  shnnninp;  tho 
lipjfht  of  tlie  sun,  she  passed  licr  infa'icy  and  girlhood 
with  an  nncl(>,  in  a  cahin,  at  tlio  dooi'  of  which  tho 
tomahawked  priest  had  fallen.  The  child  had  not  re- 
ceived tho  graco  of  Holy  Baptism,  and  had  only  what 
Christianity  she  could  remember  from  her  mother's 
instructions,  with,  ])erhaps,  occasional  teaching  from 
some  ]ioor  Huron  captive.  Tims,  her  aflliction  of  t];o 
( yes  was,  in  Ood's  will,  a  means  and  excaiso  f  >.■  tliat 
retirement  which  wordd  otherwise  not  hav;  been 
allowed.    Thus  she  grew  np,  free  from  the  vaniti'-^  and 


Li  \ 


IN  Xoniii  Amkhica. 


107 


vioos  nlmoKl  iiu*vit/iblu  to  an  Intlian  girl  in  thoHu  Mo- 
Imwk  villiigos. 

Tlio  tcniixjiaiy  jx^ni'o  ulrcuuly  spoluMi  of  liiul  l)Ocn 
iiiialn  \vitU  tl)(i  French.  Tlui  inisKioimrlcs,  whom  tho 
siivii;;*.  s  hiul  dc  uiaiidcil,  arrived  fi'oia  (^lulicc,  hut  found 
chief  and  peo].h'  eiigii;^'cd  in  a  drunhen  (h;l)auch  to  ecde- 
hi'iile  the  ]icace.    .ll''hold  "  how  all  lliiu^s  work  lo;,'etlier 


or  '•'ooi 


1  to  them  that  h)Ve  (iod. 


Tlic  (h'uiikcnneas 


i'( 


d' the  trihe  was  tin-  oii))orlniiitv  of  Tej^'ahkonita.     Tho 
tirin'' uirh  uniit   foi-  tlie  nvel,  was  onhred  to  enter- 


tain the  I'lissionarii  s,  and   won   their  In-arts  hy  hor 
llciiess.       Ihil   her  tindditv  kept  Jicr  ^ih'nt  l)i'foro 


icn 


lici: 


!in<l  lliey  went  away  from  the  \ilhi;.;('  to  their 
several  stations,  witlioul  harnin,^'  her  desiic  foi  Imp- 
tisiu.  Thi!  ^irl  .i,'ri'w  up  hcautiful.  It  was  for  tlie  in- 
terest of  her  iclalions  to  luarry  he)',  I'or  Ihi'  product  of 
the  chase,  went  to   tlie   wif"   aiul  lur  faii.il\'.     Jiut  she 


c;i 


rnesllv  and  steadih-  I'efuscd.     Kntreaties,  stralaLi't 


m. 


argument  weru  tried  in  vain.    Then  tlu^y  hej^an  to  treat 
lier  as  a  slave  ;   whatever  work  was  hardest  or  most 


ini 


pleasant  was  laid  nj'on  her,  mingled  ^\ith  rejiroachos 
and  oven  Idows;  l)iit   so  inviucihle  was  her  [)aticuco, 
.1  so  docilo  her  ';'ent]»;m'ss,  that   they  softiMied  even 


unci 


the  lieaits  of  hm'  persecutors. 


Then  Father  -lames  de  F 


•ill 


Dervuie  cam 


e  to  tlu'  vil- 


li 


vj^r,  and  orou;j;iit  the  fidlllment  of  her  long-di'1'erred 
Imd   wounded  her  foot,  and  cordd  n(;t  I'ol- 


'o'  > 


U)i)es, 


Wie 


low  the  other  women  to  lahor  in  i\\('  i-orn-harvest.    The 


'  m.  Paul  to  the  lioumus,  viii,  28. 


198 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


missionary  cliose  tlio  opiiortnnity,  offered  l)j  tlio  ab- 
sence of  tlio  majority,  to  visit  tlioso  wlio  reniiiinetl  in 
the  village ;  and  to  him  the  girl  opened  li(;r  heart, 
and  set  forth  uith  tonehing  simplicity  her  love  for  the 
"Prayer,"  and  her  long  and  ardent  yearning  hn*  bap- 
tism. Tliis  sacrament,  however,  he  dared  not  lightly 
confer.  Ho  gave  the  Avholc  Avinter  to  her  iustrnction 
and  to  close  incpiiry  about  her  character.  She  came 
forth  from  the  tihd  -white  and  pure  as  the  blossom  of 
tlie  thorn.  Of  all  that  knew  her,  no  one  conld  say 
aught  but  in  her  praise.  Even  when  they  blamed  her 
for  what  they  considered  defects,  the  Chiistian  priest 
knew  these  to  be  virtues.  So  at  length,  upon  the 
Feast  of  Easter,  1G76,  she  received  the  seal  of  regen- 
eration and  the  name  of  Catherine.  Ah !  then  how 
her  saintly  soul  unfolded,  petal  after  petal,  virtue  after 
virtue,  till  slie  stood  before  the  dear  hcavcnl}'  Mother 
Mary,  whom  she  tenderl}'  loved,  a  white  rose  of  purity 
and  all  goodness. 

But  her  trials  came  with  her  graces.  The  time  sho 
took  for  her  beads,  Avhich  she  said  twice  a  day,  for  her 
attendance  at  the  chai^el,  for  her  various  devotions, 
was  made  a  reason  of  blame  and  rebuke.  The  girls  of 
her  OAvn  age,  angered  hj  self-reproach,  mocked  and 
insulted  her ;  the  children  were  taught  to  pelt  her  with 
earth  and  stones,  and  to  shout  "  Christian  !"  derisively 
as  they  passed.  One  day  a  fierce  young  warrior  dashed 
into  the  cabin  and  swung  his  axe  above  her  bead;  but, 
without  looking  up,  sho  crossed  her  hands  upon  her 
breast  and  awaited  the  blow.     The  Inave  was  aljasbud, 


IN  North  Ajiepjca. 


190 


and  retired.  Tliou  licr  relatives  returned  to  their  at- 
tempts at  her  niarrinjie,  and  omitted  no  effort  to  shake 
her  resohition,  l)ut  in  vain.  Even  tlie  cahimny  which 
is  hardest  for  a  woman  to  hear,  faihid  to  (h'stroy  the 
sweet  jiatienee  with  whieli  slie  bore  their  perseeuticms. 
But  she  had  heard  of  La  Prairie.  Yearly  a  few  con- 
verted Irocpiois  Avould  bid  adieu  to  the  gi-aves  of  their 
fiitliers  and  <^'o  thither  for  peace  in  religion.  And  as 
the  love  of  Christ  grew  daily  greater  in  her  heart,  she 
siglied  for  the  free  exercise  of  her  worship,  the  enjoy- 
ment of  ho^'  faith. 

At  last  a  half-sister  of  hers,  a  Christian,  at  La 
Prah'ie,  opened  communication  with  her  and  urged  her 
flight.  Father  de  Lamberville  approved  of  it,  and  at 
lengtli  it  was  concerted.  The  husband  of  her  sister 
and  a  Christian  Indian  from  Loretto,  in  the  absence 
of  her  uncle,  managed  the  escape  ;  but  the  old  chief 
heard  it,  and,  charging  his  gun  with  three  balls,  he 
pm'sued  them.  They  hid  her  in  a  thicket,  and  sat 
down  by  the  road-side  as  weary  men  taking  repose. 
When  he  saw  tluMU  alone,  he  was  ashamed  of  having 
suspected  them,  and,  without  telling  his  uneasiness, 
went  back  to  his  town.  Then  the  flight  Avas  renewed, 
and  Catherine,  with  her  friends,  arrived  in  safety  at 
La  Prairie.  There,  then,  she  s:nv  with  rapture  a  settle- 
ment entirely  Christian ;  and  what  Clvlstians!  They 
were  like  those  of  the  first  ccnitury,  living  in  the  fervor 
of  fresh  faith  in  the  pr(>senec  of  ever-impending  death. 
For  the  leaves  of  each  forest  they  entered  were  likely 
to  conceal  the  Avar -paint  of  the  Mohawk  ;  from  behind 


200 


Devotion  to  the  B.  Y.  Mah\ 


•:»■ 


each  rock  on  tlic  road-sitlo  might  twang  tlio  Cayuga 
bow-string. 

Tlio  yonng  girl  voa\  'xl  herself  entirely  m\\n  God,  ajul 
from  that  moment  seemed  to  have  no  tic  on  eartli  ex- 
cept th.'it  of  lal>or  for  others.    At  the  fom-  o'clock  ^Mass 
she  entered  the  chapel,  nor  left  it  again  till  after  the 
community  Mass,  two  hours  and  a  half  later.     OfUni 
in  the  day  she  intcn-ruptt'd  her  work  to  visit  tlu^  ^Most 
Holy  Sacramcmt;    and  in  the  sacred  sh;i.loAv  of  the 
innio-e  of  Our  Ladv,  she  passed  whole  hours  aLsorlK^d 
in  prayi'r.     Every  week  she  summed  up  her  daily  sell- 
(>xaniinatioiis,  and  apiu'oached  the  trilmnal  of  ]>ei]anc<'. 
The  h'ast  dtfect   in  her  conduct   caused  her  iloods  of 
t(>ars.     ''Oh,   how   can   I  ho   wicked,"' she   wimld   say, 
"and    otViiid    my    God    who   has    so    loved    me!"     Si) 
s»nvnelv  heauiil'iil,  so  recollected  aisd  devoni'  was  sli,; 
at  each  cMiiiiimuioii,  that  the  ollu-rs  used  io  s;iv  tliiy 
CMuld  make  tlicir  preparatiim  better  if  tli(\vhnclt  win  iv 
thev  could  see  Catherine.     Her  spirit  of  nKnlificatiou 
was  hitcnse  ;  she  used  scourges  and  iron  chains,  and 
mingled  ashes  with  ln'r  sim])h>  and  scanty  food;  she 
woidd  remain  osi  hov  kn(>es,  in  midwinter,  in  chapel, 
initil  dir(>ct'  1  to  retire  by  the  pitying  pri(>st ;  she  slept 
upon  a  hnoi  bed  str(MV(>d  with  thorns,  until  her  morti- 
fications, becoming  known  to  her  director,  wt^re  mod- 
erated by  liis  command. 

She  visited  the  Ursidines  at  IMontreal,  and  falling  in 
love  with  their  consecrated  life,  asked  aiid  obtaininl 
permission  from  her  confessor  to  I'cnder  her  ever- 
cherished  purpose  of  living  a  virgin  for  Christ's  sake 


IN  North  America. 


201 


iiTCvocaLle  hj  a  vow.  This  was  done  on  the  Feast  of 
tlie  Annniiciatlon  of  Our  Blessed  Motlier.  "  A  mo- 
ment after  Our  Lord  liad  been  ^^iven  licr  in  the  holy 
conimuiiion,  she  pronounced,  Avith  wondrous  fcrA^or, 
the  \ow  of  perpetual  virginity.  Then  she  besought  tho 
holy  Virgin,  to  wlioni  she  always  had  the  tenderest 
devotion,  to  present  to  her  divine  Son  tho  self-oblation 
^vliii'li  slie  made ;  and  then  passed  sevcriJ  hours  ut  the 
foot  of  tlie  aUar  in  perfect  union  with  God." ' 

From  this  timt;  she  belonged  to  earth  no  more;  but 
longed  perpetually  for  tho  presence  of  her  Eternal 
Spouse  in  heaven,  and  to  bo  Avith  her  Mother,  ^dary, 
Queen  of  Angels.  "  She  never  spoke  of  Our  Lady 
])ut  witli  transpcn-t,"  saj's  her  biographer.  "  She  had 
learned  the  Litan}'  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  ly  lieavt,  and 
said  it  every  ui gilt  alone,  after  the  eoninion  jirityer  of 
tlie  family  was  ended.  She  was  never  Avitliout  her 
rosary,  which  slie  said  nianv  times  a  dav.  On  Satur- 
days,  and  other  peritnls  eonseerattnl  to  th(!  Vivgi]i,  bhe 
redoubled  her  austerities,  and  passed  the  d;iy  in  tho 
practice  of  some  one  virtiie  of  Our  Lady,  augmenting 
lior  fervor  on  ;dl  St.  oMary's  feasts."'"  But  the  slight 
frame  was  wearing  fast  away ;  the  eager  soul  must 
soon  l)e  unchained,  and,  like  the  dove  of  the  royal 
|)oet,  "lly  away  and  be  at  rest."' 

As  the  sjning  drcnv  on,  she  prepared  to  pass  away 
when  the  glory  of  the  forest  foliage  and  flowers  was 


'  Father  Cbolonec'B    Letter. — Ghoix   dcs  Lettrea  Udijiantcs,  torn. 
vii.  447. 
■'  Ibid,  p.  452.  •  Psalm,  liv,  7. 

ft* 


202 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


just  diuvniiig  on  tlio  I.ukI.  The  men  wore  all  away  at 
the  chase  ;  tlio  ATonion  absent  the  entire  Jay,  planting 
the  golden  corn ;  and  Catherine  lay  tliere,  in  the  deso- 
late cabin,  alone,  with  a  plate  of  crushed  maize  and  a 
cuji  of  water  by  her  pillow,  from  morn  till  the  stars 
had  risen.  Pain,  of  the  acutest  and  most  ceas(-less 
nature,  raclced  her  worn,  delicate  frame ;  but  it  never 
forced  a  nnn-mnr  from  hen* — never  drove  the  sweet, 
tranquil  smile  from  her  lips  and  large,  dark  Indian 
ej'es.  Tlie  week  of  the  Lord's  drear  Passion  had 
come;  she  was  to  keep  Palm  Sunday  and  Hoh- ^loii- 
day  on  earth,  but  her  glad,  eternal  Easter  wi'h  Si. 
3.1ary  in  heaven.  The  holy  Yiatieum  was  udniinistiMvd 
on  Tuesdav.  Father  Choleiiec  would  have  anointed 
her  then,  but  she  told  liim  slie  was  not  yc^t  dying;  ami 
she  passed  that  night  in  fervent  communion  with  our 
Lord  and  his  dear  Mother.  "But  on  AYednesda^/' 
says  the  good  father,  "she  received  the  last  unction 
with  her  usual  piety ;  and  at  three  o'cdock  in  the  day, 
havinfi;  uttered  the  holv  names  of  Jesus  and  of  Marv, 
she  passed  into  her  agony."  In  half  an  hour,  wiih.nit 
struggle  or  consciousness,  she  was  asleep  in  Jesus. 

They  did  not  j^ray  for  her  when  slie  had  gone,  l)Ut 
toiler;  and  mauv  a  cure  and  ni.un  a  ora'"'  wove  oli- 
tained  by  her  intercession.  Tlu;  holy  bishop,  Mont- 
morency de  Laval,  as  he  knelt  by  her  gi'ave,  called  her 
the  Genevieve  of  New  France ;  they  plantcxl  a  tall 
cross  above  her  ashes,  where  it  still  stands,  and  there 
did  American  Catholics,  natives  by  a  hundred  descents, 
kneel  and  pray  to  a  native  American  saint,  nearly  two 


\ 

L!  \ 


IN  North  Ameiuca. 


203 


Imnilred  years  before  Satan  invented  Native  American 
politics,  for  tlie  persecution  of  those  avIio  say  tlie 
prayers  and  worship  the  God  of  Catherine  Tegah- 
koxiita. 

Thus  did  the  devotion  to  Marj-  take  root  in  North 
America ;  filling  Iniman  hearts  with  sanctity,  repeo- 
pliug  heaven,  and  making  new  intercessors  for  a  sinful 
world.  The  State  of  New  York  had  been  taken  pos- 
session of  in  the  iiames  of  Jesus  and  Mary ;  its  lands 
had  been  consecrated  to  the  Immaculate  Conception  ; 
its  children  taught  t(^  say  the  Ave  Jfaria  or  chant  the 
licgina  CwJi.  In  thirty-seven  years  the  fierce  Indians 
of  the  Five  Nations  had  learned  to  come  in  crowds  to 
the  New  Loretto,  and  praj'  at  the  feet  of  Our  Lady  of 
Foie.  St.  Mary's  Church  was  built  in  Onondaga. 
Another  still,  St.  Mary's  of  the  Mohawks,  soon  occu- 
pii^d  the  very  spot  where  Fathcu'  Jogues  was  slain. 
The  picture  of  her  pure,  swei>t  face  adorned  the  chapel 
altar  at  Cayuga ;  the  Mission  House  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  Senecas ;  a 
statue  of  the  Yirgin  Mother  was  erected  in  Oneida, 
and  the  Sodality  of  the  Holy  Family  won  scores  of 
that  people  to  its  banner.  The  nobh;  Mohawk  wcmu^n 
wore  their  beads  with  firm  devotion,  though  the 
l)urghcrs  of  xVlbany  threatened  them  for  displaying 
their  "popish  trumper}-"  in  the  streets.  One,  stung 
past  all  patience  by  the  taunts  of  the  boors,  went  into 
their  temple  and  said  her  rosary  aloud.'     The  brave 


'  Shea's  Indian  ISrissions,  p.  208. 


204 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


and  wise  Gav.acontie  was  drivon  from  that  temple  for 
kneelinj^-  iipdii  its  floor  to  recite  his  chaplot.  " "What!" 
he  said,  "  are  yon  Christians,  a\nl  will  not  lot  men 
pray?"  It  was  the  aged  ]Moha\vk,  Assendase,  whosn 
beads  were  torn  from  his  nock,  while  the  rais(Hl  toma- 
liaAvk  threatened  his  head,  white  Avith  eighty  yeais. 
"  Strike !"  said  the  old  chieftain,  "  for  this  eanse  I 
shall  he  glad  to  die."  One  woman  drove  her  husband 
from  tlie  loilge  because  he  had  destroyed  her  cliMplct; 
but,  learning  that  she  had  done  wrong,  recaUed  him, 
and  so  Avon  him  by  her  gentleness  that  he  ftmsook  his 
paganism.  And  another,  mocked  by  the  Dutch  fur 
her  bea<ls  and  her  medal  of  St.  Mary,  said  to  tluiu 
with  quiet  scorn,  "You  pretend  to  worship  Jesus,  yet 
wish  me  not  to  honoi-  his  ]\rother!" 

Such,  nearly  two  hundred  y(\'irs  ago,  was  the  devo- 
tion to  the  Virgin  Mother  of  CJod  in  New  York. 


':^ 


IN  North  America. 


205 


CHAPTER  X. 

Oru  Laijt  of  LoiiKTTO  of  the  IIuuons, 

One  fair  Seiitcmbcr  day,  rather  move  than  two  ccn- 
tnvit'S  a^'o,  a  young  inaii,  a  novice,  sat  in  the  garden  of 
the  Jesuits  in  Homo,  reading  the  narrati^'o  of  Fatlier 
John  de  Breboonf.  Two  points,  he  tells  ns,'  esp(ieially 
riveted  his  attention.  First,  that  in  the  land  described 
tlun'(>  was  no  wheaten  bread,  no  wine,  nor  any  of  the 
luxuries  that  sweeten  European  life,  but  there  was 
abundance  of  suffering.  And  second,  that  to  instruct 
and  convert  the  barbaroui-.  tribes  of  America,  tlun-e  wjuh 
more  need  of  humilit}',  and  patience,  and  charity,  and 
zeal  for  souls,  than  of  great  wit  or  very  great  learning. 
Then  it  struck  the  young  man  that  such  a  home  and 
such  a  life  were  precisely  what  was  best  for  him  ;  for  ho 
had  a  very  decided  calling  to  the  life  of  a  missionary. 
His  name  was  Joseph  Mary  Chaumonot. 

For  the  sinless  Mother  and  pure  foster-father  of  the 
Eodcenier  he  had  always  had  a  vivid  devotion,  even  in 
the  early  part  of  ins  life,  which  had  furnished  him  with 
abundant  material  for  penance.     So  he  turned  to  them 


'  "  La  Vie  dii  U.  P,  Pierre  .Toscjili  Slavic  Chnumnnot,  de  la  Com- 
pnnjnio  de  Jesus,  t'crite  par  luimriuc  par  ordre  do  son  Superieur  I'au 
l(!li8."  Another  of  Shea's  unuppro'.'iated  gilts  to  American  Catholic 
history. 


20G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


to  get  liim  all  the  perniissions  that  wore  ncodod  to  (juit 
his  studios,  to  bo  ordainod,  to  loavo  Roino  in  tiiuo  for 
the  noxt  missionary  ship,  and  abovo  all,  lo  niaki;,  on 
foot  and  begging  his  broad,  a  pilgriniago  to  tlio  holy 
shrine  of  Lorotto,  there  to  olt'er  himself  to  her  who  in 
that  house  had  given  birth  to  God  the  Son.  For  ho 
had  made  a  vow  to  seek  in  all  things  the  greater  gloiy 
of  God,  umlor  the  espoeial  protection  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary.  So,  iu  October,  he  starti'd  upcni  his 
pilgrimage.  The  very  lirst  day  something  like  the 
white  swelling  appeared  in  his  knee  ;  but  in  spite  of  t!io 
extreme  pain,  growing  daily  worse  by  exorcise,  ho  for 
right  days  marched  on  with  heroic  fortitude;  then  ly 
the  intercession  of  a  holy  person  at  St.  Severino,  daring 
the  Mass  of  his  companion,  Father  Poucet,  ho  w.is 
healed.  They  arrived  in  Loretto,  and  the  \o\v  v,;is 
solemnly  pronounced  before  the  shrine,  with  this  iid- 
ditiouid  one  :  that,  if  it  wore  possible,  ho  would  some 
day  build  in  Canaihi  a  house  upon  the  model  of  tlie 
sacred  one  wherein  ho  was  then  praying. 

We  know  that  he  fultillod  the  second  i)art  of  his  vow 
at  the  Mission  of  the  Indians  of  Loretto.  During  four- 
teen years  ho  was  chaplain  there  ;  during  forty-nine 
3'ears  he  was  Huron  missionary.  And  in  the  duLitss  of 
tliis  post  he  sought  to  accomplish  the  lirst  obligation. 
He  and  the  Ursulines  and  the  .T^ospital  Sisters  reached 
Quebec  together  in  1039.  Two  days  after  his  arrival  ho 
set  out  in  a  canoo  for  Lake  Huron.  His  early  instruc- 
tors wore  Lallemont,  Daniel,  and  Breb(euf,  the  latter  of 
■whom  had  first  made  known  to  him  his  vocation,  and 


IN  North  Ameiuca. 


207 


whoso  Tndiiin  name,  Hoclion,  ho  inlioritcd  \v]i(>n  Bro- 
\uvni  wt'iit  to  lu'iivon  by  the  bitter  puth  of  Ifot|uois 
tortiive.  From  that  inonioiit  ho  was  a  Huiou.  Ho 
iiovur  loft  thoin,  except  for  a  journey  to  ^Montreal  or 
(Jutihec  on  their  business,  oxeept  onee  to  aid  tlie  Ouon- 
da;^ji  mission,  until  his  superiors  ealled  him  away  in 
his  last  illness.  Ho  remain(>d  with  them  throughout 
their  desperate  and  fatal  struggle  with  tlm  Fivt'  Nations, 
and  did  not  forsake  them  in  their  ruin,  but  led  the 
cliief  renniant  of  the  tribe  lirst  to  the  Isle  of  OrLans, 
under  the  protection  of  (Quebec,  and,  afterwards,  to  the 
now  Loretto. 

It  Avas  ]w,  wo  know,  who  expressed  the  unuttered 
wish  of  Olii'r's  heart,  and  with  Marguerite  lj(Jurgeoys, 
Judith  do  Bressolo;  Superior  of  the  hospital,  tlie  Sulpi- 
cian  Father  Souart,  and  Madame  Barbe  de  13oulogno 
d'Aillebcmt,  founded  the  D(!Votion  of  the  Holy  Family. 
Wliilo  his  Hurons  were  still  in  the  city,  lit>  was  ap- 
pointed chaplain  of  Do  Tracey's  newly  arrived  troops. 
Ho  and  his  new  charge  feH,  some  mutual  dislru't  at 
tu'st,  but  when  the  soldi*       saw  that  he  A\i:s  never  idle-, 
that  he  was  in  almost  constant  prayer,  that  he  spoke 
with  them  only  of  what  concerned  their  souls,  that  he 
waited  on  their  sick    saved  them  bv  his  intercession 
from  ill-treatment,  and    thought   nothing   of  himself, 
they  groAV  to  love  him.     Soon  he  had  them  all  at  a 
slan't  night  prayer,  then  saying  a  ch.iplet  eveiy  night 
in  honor   of  Jesus,  Mary,  and  Josejdi,  and  by  ami  by 
enrolled   among   the   devotees   of  tlio    Holy   Family. 
Nay,  one  of  them,  a   captain,  became    a   priest 


208 


Dkyotton  to  tuv.  r>.  V.  Mary 


])fiHt()r  of  Port  Hoy.'il,  in  Acudiii ;  unothcr  bucanio  a  lay 
brollicr  ill  tlu!  Coiiijimiy  of  Jesus. 

Tilt'  licxt  of  liis  woilvH  wiiH  tlio  foundiiif^  of  Onr  Liuly 
of  Foil',  ii  siiiino  imnu'tliiitoly  souj^lit  by  tlio  iltivotion 
]i(  t  only  of  tlic  i\il -mill  of  tilt'  ])iirisli,  but  of  tlir  Fmicji 
fi"o:ii  till'  iit'ij^libiu'inij;  city,  Tho  wi'itrrs  of  the  day 
record  scm  r.d  luiniflt's  of  lui'vcv  wioii^dit  tln'ou<^li  tho 
iutoi'ccssioii  of  St.  jMuiy,  .'lud  tlu;  littlo  c'li;ii)i'l  was  vn- 
ricdiod  AvilU  ,^ifts  from  Cuuiidii,  and  oven  from  Europe. 
Tho  ludiiius,  ill  gratitude  for  the  statuo  bestowrd,  luul 
sent  to  Our  Lady  of  Dinan  a  \vam[)um  bolt,  tho  lirst 
Avhich  I'l'ai'hod  Europe  in  this  way.  This  ono  boro,  in 
black  letters  on  a  ■white  Hold,  tho  lo}j,'end,  Jlcd/d  (jmr 
craU<li.sli — "Dlossod  art  thou  who  hast  believed"— the 
words  of  St.  Elizal)oth  to  Our  Lady  when  lirst  she  was 
saluted  as  ]\b)thor  of  tho  Lord.'  A  soooud,  dispatohod 
io  Loretto,  lioro  the  iiiseri[)tion,  ^tfc  Maria  (irid'n'..  It 
was  reci  ived  with  all  honor,  and,  richly  eiicasod,  was 
liUDg  U])  ill  Ww  Si  (II I  (I  Cdsii  at  Loretto.  "Tho  canons 
)-ecji.\ed  it  with  all  honor,"  writes  the  i>ious  Chuii- 
iuo;iot,  "  and  I  doubt  not  that  tJio  Blessed  Virgin  gavo 
:'■,  a  still  kinder  reception,  since,  a  few  years  ago,  she 
■^n'ocurod  luo  both  the  opportunity  and  tho  means  of 
biiildijig  a  now  Loretto  in  tho  forests  of  Now  Fraiu'c' 
Ah!  Mother  of  Grace,"  ho  continues,  "why  can  I  iiot 
daily  rondi'r  thee  a  million  acts  of  thanksgiving  V  ahovo 
all,  when  I  have  tho  happiness  to  celebrate  the  lioly 
Mass.     Wta'o  it  permitted  uie  here  to  sot  forth  all  tha 

'  St.  Luke,  i,  45.  *  Vie  du  Prro  Clmimionot,  p.  01. 


IN   NoilTII   AMKIlirA. 


200 


wicIcImmIim'hs,  ovoii  s])irihinl,  from  wliicli  ihy  ]iityluiH 
rcsciicil  nil',  otlu'i's  would  1)1!  I'xcitcil  to  lliniik  tluMi  for 
iii(\  and  to  liav(!  recourse-  to  tlioe  with  coiilhlt  ncc." 


^\h 


I 


icn  Ills  |mr))oso  wiis  Known,  ilio  means  soon 


tli 


fol- 


lowed— land  and  labor,  Illon('^'  from  Canada,  and  silver 


laiups  nn( 


1  rieli  veslinents  from   Fi'aiK 


It 


was  eoni- 


nu 


need  inJannai'v,  in74,  and  linislied  and  Messcul  tho 


same 


.)■ 


iTOWdS  () 


ear  in   NoV(>nd)i'r.      Tin^   ceremony   drew  vast 
ImciicIi  and  Indians  tojj-etlier.     The  Hurons 


an 


d  the  Christian  Iro(]nois,  of  whom,  by  this  time, 
tJiere  were  many  in  tlie  Kednction,  Lore  the  ima;^'e  of 
Our  Lady,  a  i'o])y  of  that  in  tlie  Italiuu  Loretto,  in 
soltMun  procession  ;  the  Superior  of  th(!  Jesnits  chanted 


tl 


ic  soleaiii 


liiijh   Mass  and 


pr 


en 


ched  ;  and  all  hearts 


ahited  \\itli  I'l'ivent  devotion  St.  jiarv  of  th«^  Hurons. 


some  nioiievji  ac 


ddi- 


Tlie  shrine  may  still  Ix;  seen,  with 
tions,  hut  sulistantially  the  same.  It  stands  upon  an 
elevated  point  between  two  ;;'or<;es.  On(>  of  these  is 
thickly  covei'cd  with  V(\L,'etation  ;  but  down  tlu^  other, 
over  rock  and  gnarled  roots,  rushes  the  fo-mung 
river.  On  all  tlm  heights,  and  on  tlu;  sith's  of  the  first 
deep  glen,  stand  tho  houses  of  the  huliihtns ;  beyond 
th(!so  rises  the  remnant  of  tho  aboriginal  I'ori-sts,  and 
tho  blue,  wavy  (mtlino  of  tho  distant  mountains  forms 
the  background  of  tlio  pictun  It  is  now  called  tho 
".iiiflciiiic  Loi'clle  ;  Church  of  the  Annunciation  of  Our 
Lady.- 
Many   a  favor,   obtained    by   Mary's    intorcossion, 


'S«o  engraving  iu  Orsiui's  Lil'e  I}.   V.  Al. 


210 


Dkvotion  'io  Tin;  IJ.  V.  ^Iaky 


II"  :)'■ 


iuuilo  <^rn\rU\\  licarts  in  tliis  licductioii ;  Tiiniiy  ii  mir- 
Mclc  Jiiilrd  till'  ct'lflii'itv  ol"  the  slililir,  uliii'h  Wiis  liuw 
lilt'    (tlllv  slliltrr    (if    il    once    lloui'isliili;^    llilx'.      Tift   lis 

uivo  one  stoiv  lici'c  of  Miirv's  i»itv.  on  the  aullioiih'  of 
T'a.'licr  Cliauiiioiinl.  He  huvh  it  would  rctiuirc  a  laim) 
voliin.t'  (i»  rrcord  llicni  all;  of  lliis  one  lie  was  an  cyc- 
^vitll('ss  ;  liis  ii'j^riid  runs  llius  : 

^Fary  Ouciidracii  uas  u  Huron  woman  a;;;!  a  fervent 
("liristian.  TFei-  linsliand,  Itaenliolii,  and  (wo  of  lier 
cldldreii  — one  live  and  one  I'lfteeii  years  old-  Iiad  died 
in  the  liosoin  of  the  Church,  and  sh'jit  in  the  grave- 
yard of  Our  Tjadv  of  Foie.  Sonio  voarH  after  the  re- 
moval  to  TjoreKo,  this  ^rood  Mary  was  smitten  l»v  one 
of  tlu^  ten  il)le  lyplioid  fevers  wliich  us(;d  to  desohite 
the  Indian  villa_t;es  in  those  days;  something  unalo- 
f^ous  to  the  eamp-fi'vo's  which  wo  hear  of  now.  So 
conii)le((  ly  reduc'i'd  was  she  tliat  hcv  wholo  Ixidy  wa 
jiowerh'ss,  as  if  paraly/ed ;  the  hist  sacraments  had 
l»eeu  ;_,iveii  lier,  and  her  decease  was  momently  ex- 
pected. Sliould  she  die,  sh(!  must  h'avo  heliind  lier 
luu'  rGmainiii<i;  chlldri'ii,  John  and  Teresa.  So,  when 
human  lielp  had  ceased  to  be  of  use,  Father  Chau- 
nionot  called  tlie  children — Teresa,  a  married  woman, 
and  John,  a  hoy  of  l"ourt(!en — to  him,  and  the  three 
united  in  a  vow  t<j  the  Blessed  Virgin,  that  if  she  would 
he  pleased  to  ohtain  from  the  Master  of  LilV;  the  re- 
covery of  the  mother',  they  would  say  in  her  church 
nine  chaplets  of  tlie  Holy  Family  in  thanksgiving  for 
the  favor.  ^Vhen  they  made  this  promise,  tho  pric^it 
went  away  to  the  chapel  to  pray  for  the  dying  woman 


IN  NoilTIl    AMl'ItTCA. 


211 


T 


II    a 


few    iikhiiciiIm    Titchu    ciiliit'    to   sav    tliut  lior 


Iiiii 
tlio 
pill 


llii'i'  Mskcil   for   //<(■/, 


iii/i. 


IT 


t>    lU'osc    aiK 


1    1 


inrrit'( 


1  to 


caliiii,  ii'Ciilliiin;   jis  lie   went   tin'   pi'avi  rs   fm'  m  .'1(>- 
tiii"'  soul.      As  III'  entered  tlie  l(ii1..c,   iN  mistress 


rose   11)1(1    received    liilii    witll    [trot'oillid    reVd'eliet",  t)    li 


h 


riiiifiisc 


\w.  i 


ells  n 


H.      He  tliouu'lit  lliis  ellort  llie  last 


tlidt  iialiire  would  make — th(^  tlielverin;^;  ni  tlie  li-^dit 
l>efoi'('  it  should  expire  forever.  Tfe  iii',.';ed  lier  to  lie 
down  at  once  upon  the  [loor  mat  which  served  Inr 
fer  a  lied;  but  she  said  she  would  be  as  well  seated. 
Ho  n,^aiu  urged  her,  but  slie  answered  ;.,'ra\(ly,  slio 
was  [irrl'ectly  well.  ^-  ill  the  good  Fatlier  I'aneled  this 
a  di'eam  of  mei-e  delirium,  whieli,  when  slie  had  ob- 
served, she  sent  her  children  from  tlie  lodge  and  toM 
tlie  piii'st  as  follows:  That,  soon  nfti'r  he  had  gouo 
out,  two  persons  entered  tlu^  lod;.;(>  and  took  their 
places  bj  her   mat,  one   at  the  side,  the  oilier,  a  little 


d 


hey,  at  the  foot.  Tho  oiK^  at  th(^  side  seemed  a  yoiin;^ 
>v')nian  or  full-grown  girl,  and  said,  "  ^Ty  mother,  if 
you  will  toucli  tho  edge  of  my  I'obo,  you  will  1k>  healed." 
r>ut  IMarv  Oueudraea  could  not  bolievt^  that  any  one 
from  lieaveu  Avould  condescend  to  visit  one  so  lowly  ns 

lid  not  have  appeared  liko 


lersc 


If: 


d 


L'talfl 


uid  as  mortalfl  "woui 
those,  sh(^  fancied  tlicm  demons  come  to  trouble  her 


last  1 


lour,  an 


I  si 


le 


pray 


e( 


Itol 


)e  rescuiM 


1  fi 


om  lliem 


lint  tlu!  vouii'T  u'ii'l,  wltli  !i  sweet,  lieavenlv   smile. 


'o    » 


biuslied  llie  edge  of  lier  robo  across  tho  sick  woman's 
face,  and  said,  "  Tliero,  mothov,  you  are  cured."  And 
tlicu  they  disappoiired.  Then  IShwy  tried  to  move, 
aiul  confidence  bej-au  to  steal  into  luu'  heart  as  s'i»3 


212 


Devotion  'J'O  the  B.  V.  Mai:y 


■;«•?; 


fouiul  liorsolf  niistross  of  lior  strenj;tli.  H\\o.  roso  and 
walked  to  the  door,  tried  all  her  limbs,  and  scut  her 
troml)liiig  d;iu,^litor  for  Chauinonot;  for  the;  hny  had 
tied  from  Ikm-  as  fi'om  a  s])('ctre.  Th(!]i  tlu;  jjood  priest 
undorstood  tliat  llio  j^racious  Queen  of  Jleavcii  had 
licard  ihi-iv  ]n'a_vevs,  and  had  sent  to  lier  lowly  Huron 
nainesake  her  own  ehildron,  witli  tlie  boon  of  liealth. 
There  wer(>  no  degnn^s  i)i  the  reeoveiy,  ?.r.iiw  Ouen- 
draca  walked  at  onee  to  the  chnreh,  tiu're  to  oH\'r  her 
thauks'-dving,  perfectly  restored. 

So  many  and  so  luarked  indeed  wer(^  t1;e  favors  ob- 
tained tliroi;,L;]i  the  intercession  of  the  Motlier  cf  Clod, 
that  the  poor  Indians  were;  always  re_Li,Teltin_u;  their 
Icvvliness  and  poverty,  because  they  had  ijo  mi^ms  of 
lionoring  her  .ib  tJiey  desired.  Nevertheless,  (liey  de- 
tiM'inined  t:)  do  what  tliey  could.  They  had  si'iit  a 
wanipum-belt  to  Foie  and  to  Lorctto ;  they  nnist  send 
another,  (nl  Vlniuiciu  purlturdiit,  to  Our  Lady  of  Char- 
tres ;  for  the  Mission  of  Loretto,  as  well  as  lliat  of  the 
Ab::akis,  had  been  united,  by  a  "union  of  intivntion  in 
prayer,"  to  ihe  i^rand  cathedral  in  rrance.  So  tluy 
made  as  fine  a,  belt  as  tliej'  could  of  black  and  white 
wanipiim,  and  tliey  wrought  the  edges  in  tlu>  Ihiest 
(piill-work,  of  the  richest  dyes,  and  the  legend  was, 
•■'  Yiiic.ixr  rAKiruii.E  Votum  Huhonum,"  and  they  sent  it 
with  this  hdter :' 

"  It  fills  our  hearts  with  joy,  O  Holy  Virgin,  that 


'  Those  wlio  iir(!  curious  in  these  miittprs  m:iy  rci'  lie  original 
Euron  h'ttcr'f  in  Jolin  IJilmary  Shea's  exquisite  ediiiim  of  Fiitlier 
Caaumonot's  Aulobiogruphy. 


IN  NoiiTii  America. 


213 


even  Ix^foro  jour  birtli,  the  city  of  CLartros  built  to 
your  honor  a  shrino  with  this  dcdicivtion,  '  To  the 
Virgin  avIio  shall  hoAiv  a  child.'  Happy  arc  thoy  who 
have  won  the  glory  of  being  your  earli(>st  soi'vants. 
Alas!  incomparable  Mother  of  God,  it  is  quite  other- 
wise with  us  poor  llurons  ;  we  have  the  sorrow  to 
liavc  been  the  last  to  know  you  and  to  honor  you.  But 
wo  would  do  what  li(^s  in  our  power  to  make  up  iov  all 
past  n(>glect  of  your  service  by  fcu'vent  devolion  .low. 
Tliis  wo.  desire  to  do,  joining  ourselves  to  your  chil- 
ilrrai  at  Chartres,  so  that  we  may  have  but  one  mind, 
one  mouth,  one  heart  Avitli  them,  to  rendcM-  you  jiraise 
and  service  and  love.  "We  beseech  them  to  ((llVi'  for  us, 
and  in  our  name,  all  the  honors  which  they  liavt;  ever 
l)aid  to  you.  It  shall  Ije  they,  for  avi;  hojx;  they  will 
not  refuse  us,  who  shall  win  your  bounty  for  us;  their 
fervor  compensating  for  our  sluggi^!in(>ss,  their  know- 
lodge  for  our  ignorance,  their  riches  for  our  penury. 

"And,  Holy  Virgin,  although  your  holy  child  has 
l)oen  born  into  the  W(n'ld,  we  will  still  honor  you  under 
tiiat  tith;  of  J'liyo  Fdrlli'ra,  so  that  you  may  deign  to 
ai'c(!pt  us  also  as  your  children.  As  we  honor  y(m 
lun'o  in  a  house  modelled  upon  that  wlun'ein  you  gave 
a  hunuui  life  to  God,  we  hope  that  30U  will  oljtaiu  a 
spiritual  life  for  us  ;  so  shall  you  be,  O  ev(U'  Virgin,  our 
njgcneratrix  until  J(!sus  be  born  anew  in  (uir  hearts. 
This  is  what  we  ask  of  you,  sending  this  wampum  in 
testimony  that  we  are  bound  to  ycnir  service." ' 


'  Vocux  (les  llurons  et  dcs  Abnaquls,  p.  1. 


214 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maiiy 


T.'io  cliaptor  of  Cluirtvos  plnecd  tlio  Huron  XkM 
air  ■•(»  tlio  treasures  of  their  glorious  catliedral,  and 
■were  very  kind  to  their  poor  Indian  brethren  on  tlus 
banks  of  tlie  St.  Lawrence.  Thev  sent  them,  ain()ii<' 
otlier  thiui;s,  a  very  liandsonie,  well-liUed  rehcjUMrv. 
It  was  of  massive  silv(>r,  richly  chased ;  upon  one  side 
bearing  in  high  relit>f  the  kneeling  figure  of  Our 
Blessed  Lady,  and  of  the  Angid  wlio  brings  the  An- 
nunciation, who  with  one  hand  extends  the  lily  of 
purity,  and  with  tlio  other  points  to  the  et<'rnal  Dove, 
hovering,  white-winged,  in  the  upper  glory.  On  the 
other  side  you  see  the  hollow  oak  wherein,  on  a  low 
altar,  sits  the  Virgin  wilh  the  Holy  Child  in  her  arms. 
On  tho  base  of  the  altar  is  a  legend,  rinjtiii.  Puritiini:^ 
This  Avas  received  wiiii  great  gratitude,  and  on  the 
feast  of  All  Saints,  KiSO,  it  was  exhibited  for  the  V(>ii- 
ejation  of  the  faithful.  Sm'nions  were  prc^aclied  in 
Freu'di  and  Huron  ;  tin;  reli(puuy  was  incensed  and 
placed  wiilun  th(^  niche  prepared  for  it;  and  Our 
Lady  was  thanked  for  this,  as  for  other  favors,  by  the 
mingled  voi(  es  of  French  and  Indians  chantuig  tho 
Air  Mari.s  SivUa. 

The  daily  life  at  Lorctto  was  more  like  that  of  a  re- 
ligious conununity  than  of  a  village  oi  pour  Indians 
who  depended  upon  the  chase  for  their  sup[)ort. 
Morning   prayer,  Mass,  and   general  examination  in 


'  Notice  pur  un  T?cli([uairo  donnc'  en  Kif^O  aux  IfiiroiiH  dc  Luri'tto 
en  lii  N(iuvi'''('  I'laii''"  par  Ic  CliMpitn'  df  I'lVdi*'''  dc  ('li:irfn's,  p.ir  M. 
Doublet  lie  iJoistliilittiilt.  Extrait  de  la  Kevuo  Aiclieologiciuo,  XV'. 
anuee.     Puiis,  A.  Leleux,  iyo8. 


IN  jSTonTII  AjfERICA. 


215 


tlic  cli.apol  occnpicHl  the  l(>isuro  of  tlic  forenoon ;  cato- 
chism  and  Instruction  of  those  who  conhl  attend,  with 
visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  sanctified  the  after- 
noon ;  and  when  tlie  sun  was  setting,  the  sound  of  the 
bell  called  the  canoe  to  the  shore,  and  hade  the  loiter- 
ing" hunter  hasten  from  the  forest  to  end  the  dny  with 
prayer.  Tlien,  when  all  were  gathercnl,  tlu>y  sang 
vespers  on  feast-days,  and  other  prayers  on  feriro. 
They  sang  in  alternate  choirs,  in  Indian  and  in  Latin, 
their  evening  devoiions.  Tluu'e  was  a  short  examina- 
tion of  c'onsei(MU'e,  the  beads  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  or 
of  the  Holy  Family,  the  Pitivy,  Air,  Cmlo,  Coiijitvor, 
the  Coraraandnients,  and  other  prayers  for  the  living 
and  the  dead,  an  anthem  to  the  most  pure  INIother,  and 
the  A)i(i('lii>^.  Thus  closed  the  d;iy,  and  then  the  stars 
reigned  in  heaven  ;  or,  if  the  clouds  made  the  mid- 
night more  profound,  the  Indian  children  of  ]\[ary 
slept  in  scM'ure  humility  beneath  the  shadow  of  her 
.sln'in(>  in  the  Lort^tto  of  the  forest. 

Missionary  to  the  Hurons  for  more  than  fifty  years, 
ihc  hour  for  Father  Chaumonot's  rest  must  bo  at  liand. 
There  are  successors,  ca[)able  nn^n,  for  the  mission. 
Piirt  of  his  daily  duty  Avas  to  teach  the  Huron  lan- 
guage for  at  least  half  an  hour,'  but  at  length  the 
superior  thougiit  him  too  nnich  worn  for  furtluir  labor, 
aiul  HM-alled  him  to  the  tranquillity  of  the  collegf ,  in 
1GD2.     AVhat  else  wo  know  of    him  is  not  from  hii^ 


'  His  Huron  prammnr  was  tlio  biisis  of  all  other  Northern  IndiuB 
graraniiirs,  iiud  tho  text-book  of  the  missionary. 


21G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  Y.  M.vky 


autobiogrjipliy,  written  in  obedionco  .'ind  for  liiKuility, 
but  is  from  tho  work  of  a  eontonijxirary  Fatlior  wlio 
know  liiin  and  watcluMl  ])is  declining  years,  as  he 
passed  from  lioly  life  to  holier,  in  the  college  of  Our 
Lady  of  Angels.  IIo  liiid  piissed  the  liniil;  usually 
allotted  to  man,  tho  throoscoro  years  aiid  ten.  In 
1()89,  on  the  Feast  of  St.  Joachim,  tho  second  d;ty  of 
tho  Octavo  of  Our  Lady's  Assumpticm  (Aug.  l.")i,  ho 
chantcMl,  in  the  cithedral  of  Queliec,  his  ".?\[ass  of 
iifty  3'ears.'"  Half  a  centur}'  had  he  heen  ])riest_,  find 
had  broken  the  Bread  of  Lif(^  to  "tiu^soul-;  that  luni- 
gercd  in  the  wilderness."  Falling  sii-k  at  last,  the  old 
man  was  sunnnomnl  from  his  mission,  hut  as  f;oo];  ns 
ho  had  soTuewhat  recovered,  he  cravcnl  peiMiiission  to 
return.  They  put  him  ofl"  until  the  Fetist  of  tlio 
Immaculate  (Conception,  and  from  that  until  l\!pi]ih;uiv, 
and  tlun  thev  n(>eded  no  more  excuses.  His  rnpidlv 
hn^akiiig  system  told  him  that  Loretto  and  he  wwa 
parted  forever.  80  he  i)re[>ari'd  himsvlf  hy  ceaseless 
prayer  and  meditation,  and  oll'ering  up  of  his  suH'cr- 
ings,  from  acute  gravel,  to  his  cruciticul  Lo)'d  ;  and  on 
tho  morning  of  the  nineteenth  of  Januiiry,  he  took 
leave  of  tho  woi'ld  without  a  moan,  entering  the  new 
life  witli  the  words,  "  Jr.srs,  I\Iary,  Joseph  !"  on  his 
lips. 

We  conclude  this  elia]:)tcr  with  the  ju'omised  Note, 
on  the  especial  patroness  of  our  early  Indian  missions, 
Our  Ladv  of  Chartrcs. 


Note. — "  li'nnciennott-,  la  devotion  ot  la  servico  do  rrgliso  catlu'.- 
dralc  do  Nobtre  Duim;  de  Cliartrca  I'ont  rcudue  Bainto  et  vcni'rublc.  i 


IN  North  Ajiertoa 


217 


tons  les  Clirosticns  .  .  .  Cost  co  qui  a  mou  la  pi('t('  dos  rnys  noa 
pivdroopscurs,  la  dotter  de  pliisicurs  i'oiuls  vt  domainos,  fiivcurs  et 
])riv('li'i;es,  et  par  lour  cliaritrs.  libi'ralitrs,  magniflceiico  royalle,  la 
rcstiiblir  et  la  ivodifior  dos  le  toiiii«  du  S.  Fulbcrt  qui  ou  estoit  cveeque 
en  I'l'istat  (pri'llf  so  void  ft  pri'scnt." 

So  sjioaks  tlio  Most  Clivistiiin  King  Jjouia  tlie  Tlurtconth  wlien 
foiiniling  in  tliis  liinious  cathcdnil,  in  KioS,  a  perpetual  reqniian  Mass 
for  tlic  soul  ol'  liis  I'allicr  Henri  Quatre.  "Tiie  anti(iuity,  (levotum, 
nnd  service*  of  the  catlieilral  ehtnrli  of  Our  Lady  of  ('Imrtrc^s  liavo 
rendered  it  lioly  and  vcneralde  to  nil  Ciiristians.  Tliis  it  is  wliieli  liaa 
moved  ilie  kings  our  predreissor.s  to  endow  it  with  many  foundations, 
d'lniaini'S,  favors,  Jind  privileges,  and  by  tlieir  <'liuri;;es,  li!;crulitieB, 
nnd  roy:^l  magiiincenee  to  re-establish  and  re-edify  it  from  the  days  of 
St.  Full)ert,  wlio  vas  5t3  bislioj),  in  tlio  condition  that  we  s(>,o  it  in 
today."'  For  Cliaiuos  yirlds  to  no  quarter  of  the  earth  in  devotion 
to  the  Moth' r  of  (iod.  in  tlu'  diuees"  whereof  tliis  vt-ueriiblc  slirine 
is  cathedral,  nino  stately  abl)eye  and  forty-five  parish  ehureli^s  iiv» 
deciicated  by  name  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  her  veneration  traces 
back,  liy  reverent  tradition,  Ixyond  the  dato  of  Christianity  itsilf. 
There  is  nothing  n^quiiinga  very  unusual  streleh  of  Inilh  or  eredulily 
in  the  tradition.  Th(*  argument  is  brielly  tliis  :  Tliat  ali  jH'oiiles'- liad 
a  tradition  of  a  virgin  wlio  sliould  bear  a  eliild,  the  ^^aviour  of  the 
world;  tliat  the  !>ru:ds  in  (iaul  were  thi;  learned  of  tho  day,  the 
liolders  of  all  religious  traditij-n  af;  well  as  its  ministers,  and  that 
Cliartres  was  the  headquarters  of  liriiidisni.'  Such  is  the  argument 
for  its  proliaiiility,  and  the  legend  is  as  follows  : 

'I'he  catliedial  of  Our  i.ady  of  Chartres  stands  upon  a  hill  onco 
covered  witli  the  saer^'d  oal; -grove  wherein  tlie  Diiiids  worshipped 
tlieir  god  'i'eutates.''  In  the  centre  of  the  wood  was  a  cav(;rn  or  vast 
grotto,  where  the  sunlight  scarcely  ])(^netrate<l,  and  whore  the  sombre 
iiivsterics  of   the  Druidic  idohitrv  wt're  celebriUed,     TIkio,  Ba\a  t!io 


'  Lcthrii  pirtciitesde  L-»ii-s'  XTH ,  tipud  Boisthibault,  p.  5^. 

*  For  a  remarkalde  instance  among  llie  American  Iirlians,  see  this 
work,  p.  41,  Orsini's  Lite  B.  V.  M.,  cliap.  1,  and  i'Abbe  Ilunrion'tJ 
Hotre  Dame  de  Fivna',  pi).  184-1!)'3. 

■*  Hi  (Drnidesi  certo  iinni  ttunpore  in  finibua  Carmitnm,  qu.np  regio, 
tntiusUalliie  media  hal'itur,  cousidunt  in  loci)  cousecrato. — (.".khAJI  de 
Bd.  Uiil.,i\-.  V-\,  11. 

^  T.vciTV's,  (hvmdnia. 

10 


218 


Devoti()>;  to  the  T>.  Y.  Matsy 


'■fi 


lopreml,  one  Imndrcd  yciirs  lii'foro  tlio  Saviour's  liirtli,  dkl  Prisous, 
kini?:  (if  Ciiiirtri  n.  patlior  liis  wiivir)rs,  ban.ls,  orators,  ami  ])rii'Sts,  to 
seo  erected,  l)y  coiuiiiaiul  ot'  the  In'iii'iie  collei^'e,  an  altar,  Ivarin^-  tlu; 
Ima^e  oi"  a  Woman  with  a  Cliild  in  her  arms,  aini  thi-  inscrijition, 
"To  THE  VnuuN  who  shall  r.iUNfi  foiith  a  ('ini.n."  Vii!f;r\i 
PAUiTViiJ';.  'I'he  altar  was  set  up,  and  Prisons  tlie  k'uyj;  soli'ninly 
Cfjnsec.ruled  himself,  his  land,  and  liis  i)e()i)le  forevi;r  to  lier  wiio  should 
Iwar  the  "Desire  of  all  Nations.'"  \\'l;en,  then,  the  first  Innilds  ef 
the  truth,  SS.  Po'i-ntianiis,  Altinns.  and  Sabinianus  arrived  j-i  this 
country  and  announecd  that  She,  so  honored  there,  had  come,  and  hud 
born  "  JCmannel,  liod  with  us,"  the  hearts  of  the  Canuites,  long  iirc- 
pared,  received  the  message  gladly.  A  rude  church  was  built  within 
the  grotto,  the  very  image  sculptured  by  pagan  fingers  wa<  blcssc;l 
and  the  land  becanie  Mary's,  to  tlie  greater  glory  of  her  et"rnal  Son. 

When  Coiislantini;  gave  peace  to  the  Cliiirch,  and  tlu;  (•mpiit;  of 
the  (';esar8  became  Christendom,  the  grove  was  cut  down,  a:iii  n 
church,  st'.ll  modest  and  poor,  was  erected  upon  the  Rtunmit  of  the 
hill.  Iliilier  the  early  (iallic  Christians  florked,  and  Inmi  Our  Bhsscd 
]jady  was  pleased  to  manifest  her  nuitcrtiul  love  Jor  tlie  unfirtuuaU' 
liuman  bri'lhreti  of  her  Son.  The  crowds  of  worsliijipiM's  gra  luiilly 
ang!tiiMitcil,  and  various  structnves  succeeded  to  the  primiiive  br.iM 
ings  as  the  necessity  of  the  times  recpiircd.  At  length,  in  10:20,  the 
Bishop,  Fuibi'rt,  aided  by  the  devout  largesse  of  Robert  of  Fiance, 
Knut  the  (ireat,  of  D.-nniarh  and  I'^O'vland.  l?ichard  of  Xi  rinaii'Iy, 
William  of  Aquitnine,  I'Tudi's  of  ChaTtrrs,  ami  other  so^•l'r(■ign  princes. 
laid  the  magnificent  foundations  of  the  actual  cathedral,  and  lini.-^hcd 
vaultiug  the  grotto  wliicli  thus  bccann.'  the  ciypt  of  the  chmcli. 

In  tl;e  cryiit-chur<'li,  whi(,'h  is  known  as  Oar  Lady's  Tuder  Oroiiml, 
is  ]ireaerved  t!ie  ant:<]ue  statii<\  in  a,  niche  f)ver  tln^  altar.  The  inia<rc 
was  of  wood,  tin;  original  color  long  since  destroyed  by  the  smoke  of 
wax-lights  and  its  great  age.  The  Virgin  wjis  repre.si;nti,'d  as  scu.ril 
in  a  chair  and  holding  u])on  her  knees  her  Divine  Son,  who  lipids  the 
globe  of  the  earth  in  His  left  hand,  and  with  Ills  right  bestows  the 
benediction.  The  I'' „>ssed  Virgin  is  crowned.  And  there  rested  the 
fitatuo  where  llie  hands  of  the  Druids  had  placed  it,  tiiilil  ihe  jnogro- 
sive  ri'imMicanism  of  17!^'  1  ovrthrv'w  the  shrine,  tore  thi'  imaire  from 
its  niche,  hea])e<l  outragi^  and  insidt  upon  it,  and  then  burned  it  pub- 
licly at  the  door  of  the  noble  temple  wliich  jd' ty  hail  raised  hi  ita 
hmor.  That  whii  h  is  now  seen  in  the  c:ithe  Iral  is  only  a  cony  ol'  t'»> 
antique  inutge.  so  consistently  destroyed  by  our  modern  political  and 


HMte 


iiiiilMr  II-   - — 


IN  KoiiTH  America. 


219 


social  reformors.  Besides  this,  however,  tlio  church  was  enriched 
with  other  treasures,  which  happily  escaped  tlio  nigo  of  the  Hovohi- 
tion.  There  was  a  statue  called  Our  Ludy  of  the  Pillifr ;  long  a 
vehicle  of  Clary's  graces  to  her  cliildrea.  The  atone  ])e(lestal  on 
wliich  it  stiiiuls  lias  heon  Avorn  hollow  by  tlu;  kisnos  of  the  devout, 
and  the  legend  on  the  haso  is,  Tota  pulrlira  cs  amira  men  ct  macvla 
non  est  iit  te — "Thou  art  all  fair,  my  beloved,  there  is  no  sixrt  L. 
thee." 

There  is  also,  since  the  year  870,  nn  Oriental  veil,  sucli  as  is  still 
worn  in  tlie  Kast,  and  which  is  said  to  have  heen  Our  I.tidy's.  It  Avas 
given  to  f  lie  church  by  Charles  the  Bald  ;  it  h:is  received  ihe  venera- 
tion of  all  centuries  since  lli<n,  (nen  of  <nir  own;  and  in  I80"),  the 
eloquence  of  the  great  Bishop  of  Poiliers  chose  it  for  one  tin  me  of 
ilia  discourse,  when  the  statue  of  Notre  Dami^  was  solemnly  crowned 
in  that  year.  Many  another  sacred  treasure  does  this  grand  old  tem- 
ple possess,  and  simple  and  poor,  j'et  honored  ..mong  them,  you  may 
still  sec  the  wampum  belts  of  the  Abenaki  of  La  Prairie  and  the 
Huron  of  Loretto.' 


'  Vide  "Notre  Dame  de  Franco  ou  I'histoire  du  culte  de  la  Sainto 
Vierge  en  France  d"puis  I'origino  du  Cliristiaiiisme  jusqii'  a  nos  jours. 
Province  ecclrsiasticjue  do  Paris,  par  M.  lo  Cure  de  Saint-Sulpice." — 
Vwux  dcs  Huruhn,  etc.,  otc. 


220 


DEvo'noN  TO  THE  B.  V.  Mmxy 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Oun  Lady's  A.afrMi 


TIO.N    OF     A. 


IVOll.    AM)    WHAT    OAMK   OF     IT— A    Ml8- 


SlDNAKY    I'ltlNCE. 


Dfstintid  to  t(^mper,  if  possible,  tho  absolute  frro- 
dom  of  tho  oil  ,  mid  to  sorvo  as  a  rclngo  from  the  hor- 
rors of  the  othor,  tho  "'hnreh  in  tlie  TTnited  States 
ai^penrs  KcveiicljbckAvcen  the  AiiKn-ieaii  and  the  French 
revoluiions.  The  first  name  in  tiio  hicrarehy  of  tliis 
republic  is  a  name  from  the  Declaration  of  Tn(h>p(>n- 
cl(>nee  :  tlie  first  clerpry  under  the  jniisdiction  of  C 
roll  are  thos'^  Avhom  fetterless  tiger  passions  drive  1V( 
old  Catholic  F'-iriice,  Dubois,  Fliiget,  ])avid,  r)ad 
Du^-'ourp',  Mar(M'h;d  Chev(n'T;s,  Pdchard,  Salmon,  and 
tlieir  companions,  lay  th*^  foundations  of  this  country's 
true  indebtedness  to  the  land  of  St.  Louis.  Of  these, 
Stephen  ]5adin'  is  to  be  the  first  priest  ordained  in 
Aiueriea;  six  others  are  to  be  bishops,  one  afterwards  a 
cardinal;"  Abbe  Salmon  is  to  die  of  cold  and  wounds, 
in  the  snow ;    Garnier  shall  see  his  phdsni(t  ]i"i;s  (t<\ 


ar- 


)ni 


m. 


Fraw 


'"  a  gam, 


and  end  his  l;i'>ors  as  superioi'-ir 


rcnev'i 


lof 


St.  Sul;)i 


ce 


Cheverus,  a  Prince  of  the  Church,  and  Du- 


bourg  die  nunnbers  ef  tho  restored  hierarchy  in  their 
native  Innd;  and  the  others  arc  to  find  the  place  of 


*  Stephen  Badin,  ordiiincd  at  Balt'more,  17!).). 

*  Join;  Lofevrn  Chovcrus,  Bishop  of  IkKsion,  1810;  of  ■Moutaubar, 
1818  ;  Arc!ills1io|)  of  lordcr.ux,  lb~'G  ;  Ca-  Jinal,  18oG. 


IN  North  AArEincA. 


221 


F  IT — A  Mis- 


tlieir  rest  iu  tlio  land  which  their  toils  have  couse- 
crivtod. 

So  that  France,  the  pioneer  of  Christianity,  heir  of 
t!ie  Spiuiianl  in  Loiiisiuna,  and  sacred  conqneror  of 
Canada,  sends  the  iirst  company  of  soldiers  of  Mary 
to  rcMluce  to  the  suhmissiou  of  God  the  centre  of  this 
vast  iiovtheni  continent. 

]S\'veith(-less,  it  is  in  England  t.'iat  this  act  of  the 
sacred  drama  opens.  In  the  centre  of  a  Avell-watered 
valley,  running  downward  through  Dorsetshire  to  the 
Channel,  stands  the  anlitpie  castle  of  Lulworth,  a 
gothic  pile  of  f(  ur  round  towers  united  hy  massive 
battlemented  curtains.  This  was  the  home,  first  of 
the  Normal!  de  Lolleworths ;  in  King  John's  da}'s,  of 
the  princely  Newburghs ;  then  of  the  Ijindou  Howards; 
lastly  of  the  Welds,  sprung  from  Edric  the  "Wild.  For 
these  a  home,  for  othei's  a  temporary  refuge.  For 
here  the  austere  monks  of  Our  Lady  of  L  i  Trappe 
found  a  shelter  when  driven  from  their  mountain  for- 
ests by  the  merciless  mus  cnlili'es;  and  later,  by  another 
effort  after  universal  eipiality,  the  old  Avails  became 
the  abode  of  the  royal  house  of  France,  bc^t'oro  they 
moved  to  that  castle  of  sadder  and  darke-  history,  the 
Scottish  Holyrood.' 

It  was  the  scene  of  many  a  harel  fight  in  olden  days, 
as  when  de  Clare  stormed  it  for  the  Empress  Matilda ; 
but  none  cl'  its  memor"(>s  can  interest  ns  so  much  as 
thai  of  the  midstimme,  •■'orning  which  gave  their  first 


)f  ^loutauban, 


i 


>  Sir  Bernard  Burkc'l"  Liindea  Gentry,"  Article,  Weld. 


022 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  JNIauy 


■%'- 


l)isliop  to  tlu)  Uiiitrd  States.  Tlio  day  wan  not  nn- 
liapi)ily  clioscii.  For  tli(^  discovory  aiul  consocration 
of  tlui  land  i'l'oin  INIaiiK!  to  Florida,  from  the  Cliosa- 
poakci  to  California,  by  tlio  servants  of  Mary,  and  tlio 
solciiiii  dedication  of  it  to  hvv  name,  may  \)v  likened 
to  her  Nativity.  The  growth  of  the  French  and  Span- 
ish churches  is  lu>r  beautiful  youth.  'Ulum  come  the 
dark  'imes  of  I'uritanic  con([uest,  the  destruction  of 
the  Catholic  missions,  and  the  disappearance  of  tho 
Catholic  Indians,  as  tho  dark  time  of  her  sorrows  fnjin 
tho  Flight  into  Egypt  until  the  Crucifixion.  xVnd 
now  the  new  rising  of  the  Church  is  visil)le  meetly 
on  tho  Foast  of  her  Assumption,  when  she  went  up 
into  tho  presence  of  the  King  her  Son,  and  "tho 
King  rose  up  to  do  her  reverence,  and  tiny  set  a 
throne  for  the  King's  Mother,  ami  she  sate  at  his  right 
hand." ' 

So  that  from  that  Feast  of  Our  T>lessed  Lady's  x\s- 
sumption  in  tho  castle  cliiipel  of  old  Lulworth,  unto 
that  \\iiich  has  been  celebrated  this  year  Ihrougliout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  North  America,  the  devotion 
to  Mary  has  grown  steadily;  and  now  tln're  is  scarcely 
a  county  without  a  church  to  her  niuue;  scarcely  a 
s(iuare  mile  from  the  Gulf  to  tho  Arctic  Ocean  wlnu'ein 
that  nauK!  has  not  at  least  been  ]>roclaimed.  In  that 
short  space  of  a  single  human  life,  seventy-two  years, 


'  Lib,  iii..  Ucgmn  :  V(;nit  t^o  Bethsaljco  ml  IJe;,'oin  Saloiiioncm ; 
et  surrexit  rex  in  ofcursiim  ejus;  nduravitque  caiu,  et  scdit  sujjor 
thronuni  Hiuiin;  potsitustiuo  ubt  tlirouus  matri  regis  (juic  scdit  ad  dux- 


teram  regis. 


IN  Nonrir  AMEurcA. 


223 


"tlio  lonst  Ims  booomo  a  lliouHaiul,  aiul  tlio  little  one 
a  most  stroiif^  luitioii.'" 

The  lioly  do  Moiitfort,'  if  wo  ituumhIxm"  ii,L;litly,  ap- 
plies to  Our  Lady  thoso  words  of  tlic  Soii'^  of  Soiij^s  : 
"As  t]i(5  applo-troos  unioiif^  tlio  tvoi>s  of  tlu?  wood,  so 
is  my  l)olovi>(l  among  the  t*liildr(>n  of  iiicii  ;"  '  jind  says 
tlifit  slio  bhall  coiuo  to  luiiti^  in  herself  ulniosf  nil  Iho 
vcnoration  paid  by  man  to  saints;  oi-  at  Kast  sliall  bo 
aolaiowledij;ed  as  supertMuir.ently  worthy  of  it  in  every 
part  of  Christendom.  And  wo  seem  to  see  the  fiilfil- 
mout  of  this  declaration  in  North  America.  In  ]'jnro])(% 
every  town  and  vil]ag(!  has  its  own  ])!itr(in,  who  ab- 
sorbs most  of  the  devotion  of  the  people;  but  in  this 
comitry,  jjlaced  under  her  especial  protection  by  Span- 
iard and  Frenchman,  by  emigrant  En,i;lishman,  and 
American  in  the  fresh  Hush  of  ncnv  inde[»en;ienco, 
nearly  the  whole  devotion  of  the  people  conccnitrates 
in  \ivr;  or  turns,  for  her  sak(>,  to  Saint  Annc^  among 
the  Canadians,*  or  to  Saint  Joseph  among  tin;  faithful 
ill  the  United  States. 

What  antique  Catholic  land,  ev(^n  Spain  or  Ireland, 
can  show  what  this  country  shows,  even  by  the  ex- 


'  Isaiiis,  Ix.  22. 

'  Si'i;  Dr.  Ncligiin's  "  S^aintl y  riiiiractcrs." — Kiikcr:  New  York. 

'  Sic'iil  iimlijs  inter  ligiia  silvarum,  sic  diluctuj  rums  iiircr  iili(js.— 
Cant,  ii, ',]. 

*  'iho  voyagcT  gives  as  reverential  reason  for  liis  jrroat  rlevntion  to 
St,  Aiiiic,  tliat  Our  Lady  is  too  lol'ty  and  great  for  hi.>  unwortliiness 
to  uddicss  dirrcily  ;  and  so  as  otlier  ("atliolics  pli'ail  iliniugli  tlie  ma- 
lernity  of  Mary  to  the  Heart  of  .lesus,  the  Canadian  iniijlures  tlxe  ma^ 
teruity  of  iSl.  Aiaiu  to  intercede  witli  the  Heart  of  Mary. 


224 


Dkvotion  to  tiik  B.  v.  Mxuy 


tioiuol}'  i;iii)(!rrcH't  roiionl  of  tlu!  ulin:iuao,  one  cJnirch  in 
cvcri/  /ire  1»(  .iriii^'  the  bouutiful  and  cikIuvIii^  iianio  of 
tho  Mother  of  Our  Tionl  iiiul  of  us?  AVliut  tcivritory, 
of  oiU!-t(Mil]i  llio  vastiiess,  lias  t-Vi'V  Itccn  placed  ]>y 
four  iiidi'peiident  und  unintorcoiuinunicatiii^'  powers 
under  lier  peculiar  patroiia;^'e  and  protection ?  Tlnii, 
with  this  for  the  divinely  oi'dered  starting-point,  let  us 
look  to  sei!  \\lielher  tho  other  means,  lius  zeal  of  the 
ministry,  has  been  connnensiu'ate,  in  its  decree  of 
course,  \\l[\\  the  clear  grace  bestowed  by  our  (ileiiiul 
Father.  "We  atlo[)ted  as  principles,'  at  tho  outset  of 
this  -woilc,  that  a  devotion  advanc(>s  in  prop/ortiou  to 
its  own  merits  and  to  tho  ardor  of  t!ie  ministry  who 
propagate  it.  Tlio  whole  of  this  gri'at  book,  Orsini's 
noblo  "LitV',"  and  our  own  hund)l(!  continuation,  is  mi 
exhibition  of  tho  merits  of  Mary,  and  we  Inive  simmi  tlio 
latest  iliu^trittu.s  historian  of  An^orica,  puritan  tiiou^h 
he  bo,  sn])|)()i'ting  us  in  our  claims  for  the  early  [)i()ne('r 
servants  of  Mary  in  tho  land.  Lot  us  begin  l)y  statiiijj; 
what  thev  lia\"  done  in  a  single!  evident  way  for  this 
beautiful  de\otion — as  Kouelni  Digby  would  say,  llio 
way  of  churi'lu>s. 

There  are  nninv  churches  of  Our  Blessed  Lailv  un- 
known  to  tliis  writer.  Of  acvcii  dioceses  in  the  Jhitis]« 
Possessions  ho  has  no  account;  bi;t  with  ail  thi.-.,  and 
with  the  gre:!.t  imperfection  of  such  rec(ji'ds  as  h('  has, 
he  still  c:ui  give  the  following  list  of  Mary's  siuines  iu 
North  America. 


V    ■ 


'  See  pages  9,  10. 


IN  Noiirii  Amkiiica. 


225 


Tli('i'<'  •ii'ti  (18(52)  iiiiu^  (Icdic'utioiH  lo  "Mary  TT»'1[)  of 
ChvistiiiiiM,  iiiiu!  to  ^lai'y  Star  of  tlu>  Sea,  two  to  j\Livy 
H(^fuj;o  (»t'  Siiiiici's,  si'Vfu  to  tlio  Htu'rctl  Heart  of  Marv. 
Tlirn^  ,i)'i!  soiiu'iiiiu's  only  one,  somctiiin'S  as  many  an 
four,  loOiir  r^ady  of  llio  Port,  (»f  I  lie  I^l(•,  of  tlio  Cata- 
ract, of  [he  (lulf,  of  tli(!  liivor,  of  tlio  llocks,  roLnnl.d  In 
foriniiliilliiis  /I'fnc,'   Our  I^ady  of  the  Porta^'o,  of  tlio 


Snow; 


)f    the   "Wooiis,   of    tln!    Jjakc,   of    tins    Desert. 


There  is  Our  I^aily  of  La  Salitte,  of  ]5eUMi,  of  Lovis, 
iind  nine  of  (luadalupe,  A^^aln,  avo  iiave  Our  l^ady 
of  Li^dit,  of  (lrae(^,  of  Good  Hilp,  of  Piefnge,  of  (Jood 
Hope,  of  Pronijtt  fSiU'cor.  Tliero  are  four  to  Our  liady 
of  Vielories,  tliroo  to  Our  Lady  of  (V)nsolation,  livo  to 
Our  liudy  of  Lorotto,  soven  to  Our  Ijad^'  of  An^^tds, 
nine  of  the  liosary,  seven  of  the  Oood  Shepherd,  six- 
teen of  Our  I^ady  of  Mercy,  twenty-one  of  Sorrows, 
twenly-two    of    Carniel,    thh'ty-onu    to    "Our   Lady," 


SlUllilV 


There  are  tlireo  ehurehes  of  the  ^[oiher  of  Clod,  five 
of  (lie  Pui  iliealion,  eleven  of  tho  Xa.tivit}'  fourteen  of 
tilt)  Aniiuneiation,  sixteen  of  the  A'isitation,  I'lfty  of  tho 
Ai5Sunii)lion,  one  hundrt'il  and  forty-live  of  tho  Ini- 
macuhito  Conception,  and  thri'o  hundred  and  sixty- 
st'von  uhich  are  simply  ealled  Saint  Mary's. 

In  all,  there  stand  in  North  America,  in  honor  of  its 
Patroness,  more  than  eight  hundred  chuiches. 

How  this  swift  growth  has  come  about  in  so  short  u 
time  wo  arc  about  to  look  at  more  in  th>taik     AVc  are 


"  Jly  dove  in  the  clefts  of  tho  rock." — Sony  of  SoIodkui,  ii.  14. 
P  10* 


226 


Devotion  to  the  13.  V.  Mart 


to  soo  tlio  pri(^st  and  tlio  religioiis,  tlio  enorp;y  of  man 
niid  tlio  ivitiont  labor  of  Avoiuan,  under  new  dillicultios 
and  trials  peculiar  to  tlioir  position,  (^xt(Midin<^  to  tlio 
people  Avlio  surround  llieni  tlielr  own  eariu>st  devotion 
to  God  and  Mavv.  Coeval  with  tin;  cousccialion  of 
Bishop  Carroll,  the  Daughters  of  Our  Lady  of  Mt. 
Carmel  were  in  ]\rarylaud  suirering  from  poverty  al- 
most extreme,  fastiii^tj;  eight  months  in  the  year,  sleep- 
ing on  straw,  ohtaining  a  modification  of  their  clois- 
tered austerity  to  enal)le  them  to  become  teachers,' 
and  oflering  perpetual  prayer  for  the  country  wheiein 
they  came  to  dwell. 

The  Poor  Clares  followed,  but  did  not  continue  long; 
when  tiiey  declintnl,  the  Visitation  of  Our  Lady  took 
their  jilaco.  Long,  long  ago  among  the  mountains  of 
Chamblais,  there  stood  an  ancient  shrhie  of  tlu^  Blessed 
Virgin,  resorted  to  by  pious  pilgrims.  Hero,  gradually, 
certain  hermits  gathered,  as  in  Switzerland  they  clus- 
tered about  the  famous  Abbey  of  Einsiedeln,  and  the 
saintly  Bishop  of  Geneva  had  given  them  for  title. 
Hermits  of  the  Visitation.  Afterwards,  when  Saint 
Jane  Frances  de  Chantal  formed  her  congregation  <at 
Aunecy,  in  Savoy,  St.  Francis  de  Sales  calhnl  them  the 
Order  of  the  Visitation  of  Our  Lady."  It  Avas  their 
rule  and  title  which  IMiss  Alice  Lalor,  by  direction  of 
Bishop  Neale,  adopted  for  her  now  American  sister- 
hood in  Georgetown,  A.  D.   1814;   and  now  between 

'  De  ("ourcy's  History  of  the  Catliolic  Chiirch  in  tlie  United  Statea, 
p.  83. 

«  Approved  hy  Pope  Urban  VIII.,  1G20. 


;,! 


IN  North  AarEiacA. 


227 


;y  of  man 
litru-ultics 

hinr   to  tllO 

elation  of 
ay  of  Mt. 
>ov(Mty  iil- 
•eav,  sleep- 
Lliciv  clois- 
;  teaclici'S,' 
try  Avlieiuin 

itiime  long; 

•  Liuly  took 

lountivins  of 
nu'BlosstMl 

:>,  p;viuTually, 
(1  tlioy  clus- 
-lii,  aiul  the 
iin  for  title, 
Avluni  Stiiut 
.■rogation  at 
.ihI  them  tlio 
;t  was  their 
(lirocticm  of 
Irican  sister- 
,o\\  between 

,  United  States, 


three  anJ  four  hundred  of  these  daughters  of  Mary 
toacli  reverence  to  her  uanie  iu  these  States. 

Already  the  Sisters  of  Charily  were  at  EniniittshTtrg 
with  their  venerable  foundress,  Mother  Seton,  1809. 
To-d;iy  where  are  they  not?  Their  orphan-asylums 
and  scliools,  their  hospitals,  their  baiiaclv  iie;ir  the 
battle-lield  mark  their  presence.  And  there  are  no 
longer  in  this  whole  vast  country,  we  be-lieve,  ludess 
perha})s  in  New  England,  niany  wlio  do  not  know  and 
reverence  the  dark-robed  i'oun  us  it  moves  on  its  er- 
rand of  mercy  throiigh  the  streets.  Add  to  all  those, 
the  fervent  priests,  so  few  at  first  in  number  ;  tlie  early 
bisho[)s,  penniless,  sometimes  barely  clotlied,  and  often 
Avuhout  light  or  fire  m  winter;  traversing  distances 
en  horseback  that  we  grundjle  at  passing  over  in  the 
mil  way-train  now;  enduring  all  this  cheerfully  and 
lu;i.'oically  as  we  shall  soon  see.  Sum  up  all  th(!se  and 
■\vo  begin  already  to  observe  that  Devotion  t(j  Mary  in 
Central  North  America  is  to  rival  the  Devotion  of  the 
Canadas. 

Lishop  Carroll  found  himself  spiritual  governor  of 
all  the  terrilory  then  owned  by  the  United  States,  and 
liis  missionaries  started  from  Baltimore  for  the  West 
us  one  would  strike  out  to  sea  alone  in  a  bark  canoe. 
For  the  uncut  forest  surged  around  them  with  its  vast 
gi'cen  w;.v(\s  of  verdure;  the  Indian,  rarely  i'riendlj', 
lurked  in  its  dim  recesses ;  the  road  was  oftenest  no 
clearer  than  a  hunter's  trail  or  a  forsaken  deer-path. 
liny  themselves  were  scholarly  men,  nurtured  in 
i^uropean  habits,  necessities,  ideas  of  distance.     But 


228 


Devotion  to  thk  B.  V.  Mary 


in  tlio  precise  spirit  of  Miirqnotte,  Jogiies,  Brebooiif, 
tiicy  put  tlioir  trust  in  God  unci  Avcnt  "wlievesocvcr  He 
directed.  Borne  by  tlicni,  the  Devotion  to  Our  Lady 
followed  tlio  course  of  the  grout  ntiturid  l)ound;irics 
of  this  nii<;'1itv  land.  Flowint^f  westward  from  the  Lav 
whicli-  the  Ih/st  missionaries  culled  St.  Mury's ;  from 
the  town  which  its  first  settlers  culled  St.  ?Iury's;  tliis 
river  of  devotion,  checlced,  us  might  be  supposed,  by 
the  cli.iin  of  mountains,  ])y  Alleghany,  and  C'uinber- 
land,  and  Blue  Bi<,lg(},  divided  into  three  streams. 
One  of  these  streams  run  nortlnvurd,  us  if  to  seek  the 
old  wells  of  devotion  among  the  red-incn  und  the 
French  ;  and  this  soon  carried  on  its  bosom  a  saintly 
Cheverus  to  hear  through  tlie  gloom  of  tlie  wood  the 
song  Uaiiriijival  and  the  Salm  lUy'ina  from  tlu^  lips 
of  our  old  friends  the  over-fuithful  Abenuki.  A  second 
run  southwurd,  to  visit  ugain,  after  an  intervul  of  two 
centuries,  the  spots  "wluu'O  the  blood  of  Jesuit  and 
Carmelite,  of  Augustiniau  and  Franciscan,  hud  niiu- 
gled  to  baptize  the  Carolinas.  And  the  third  followed 
the  course  of  Ja  hiic.  lilcltrv,  and  flowed  with  its  yel- 
low Avaters  through  the  fertile  heart  of  the  lan(".,  to  the 
river  wherein  De  Soto  had  been  buried,  and  to  whidi 
Marquette  hud  given  its  name  of  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion. 

In  eighteen  years,  sixty-eight  priests  and  eighty 
churches  formed  too  heavy  a  burden  for  tlie  venerable 
Bishop  of  Bultimoro,  and  the  sees  of  New  Yoih,  Bos- 
ton, Bliiladelphia,  and  Bardstown  in  lO^ducky,  were 
established.     Let  us  look  at  a  typo  or  two  of  the  meii 


:,^ 


IN  North  America. 


220 


wlio  led  those  missions.  As  early  as  1705  tlicre  was 
one  Fiithor  Smith  who  was  missionary  for  an  onormons 
district  in  Western  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Pennsyl- 
vaiiia.  There,  for  forty-one  years,  ho  toiled  hi  hum- 
bli'  faithfulness ;  from  thence  hi^,  soul  ascended  to  the 
judgment  which  his  life  had  merited.  It  will  not  he 
Tiiiiiit(>vesting  to  consider  some  points  in  the  life  of  this 
m>rv;iiit  of  Mary,  this  glorious,  although  unrenowned 
pidiu  er  of  lu'r  lioiior  in  this  country. 

This  Father  Smith,  missionary  of  Ilagerstown  and 
Cnml.)erland  in  ^Maryland,  of  Martinsburg  and  AVin- 
chestcr  in  Yirginia,  of  Chamberslmrg  and  the  Alle- 
gliaiiy  iuountain  sweep  in  Peimsylvania,  and  tlieuce 
southward;  of  far  more,  in  a  Avord,  tliiiu  \Juit  now 
constitutes  the  entire  diocese  of  Pittsburg  ;  this  rival 
of  rioniez  in  tin  south,  and  of  Father  Chaumonot  in 
the  north  :  this  founder  of  Our  Lady  of  Lon^tto  in  the 
(■('111 re  of  the  continent,  was  not  always  known  a .;  Father 
Smith.  In  his  own  country,  the  vast  Muscovite  cm- 
pho,  IJK^n  ruh'd  by  the  Czar  Alexander  1.,  he  was 
known  :i,s  i]\o  Prince  Augustine  do  Gallit:;^in.  His 
father,  Prince  Demetrius  Gallitzin,  was  ambassador  of 
Catherine  the  Cireat  to  Holland,  at  the  time  of  the 
missionary's  birth.  His  mother,  the  Princess  Amelia, 
was  daughter  of  that  famous  Field-marshal  Count  von 
Hchmettau  Vv-ho  illustrates  the  military  annals  of  Fred- 
erick Ihe  Great. 

The  young  Gallitziu  was  decorated  in  his  very 
cratllo  with  military  tithes,  which  destined  him  from 
his  birth  to  the  highest  posts  in  the  Ilussian  army. 


230 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Iligli  in  tbo  favor  of  the  Empress  Catlierine,  his  fatlior, 
a  lianghty  and  ambitious  nobleman,  (IrfMiniui:;  only  of 
tlie  advancement  of  his  son  in  the  road  of  pveferniont 
and  worldly  honor,  was  resoivutl  to  give  liim  an  educa- 
tion Avorthy  of  his  exalted  birth  and  brilliant  prospei'ts. 
Religion  formed  no  part  of  the  i)lan  of  the  father,  who 
was  a  prolicient  in  the  school  of  Gallic  intidelity,  and 
the   friend    of    Diderot.      It   Avas   carefully   excluded. 
Special  care  Avas  taken  not  to  suHer  any  minister  of 
religion   to   a2)[)roacii   the   study-room   of  the   young 
prince.     He  Avas  surrounded  b}'  infidel  teachers.     His 
motlu.'r,  a  Catholic  by  Ijirth  and  early  education,  Avas 
seduced  into  seeming  Voltairianism  by  the  court  fash- 
ion of  her  native  country,  and  her  marriage  Avith  Prince 
Demetrius  confirmed  her  habits  of  apparent  infidelity ; 
we  say  apparent,  for  she  retained,  even  in  the  Sidons 
of  Paris  and  in  the  society  cl  Madame  du  uhatclct,  a 
ferA'ent  dcA'otion  to  Saint  Augustine,  that  grand  doctor 
of  the  Church  Avho  lii>  I  been  a  great  Avorhlling  and 
heretic.     After  the  marriage  of  the  elder  Gallitzin  Avitli 
the  Princess  Amelia,  ho  brought  her  to  Paris  and  in 
troduced  her  to  his  literary  infidel  friends,  especially 
to   Diderot,   in   Avhoso   company   he   delighted.     This 
philosopher  endeavored  to  win  the  princess  over  to  his 
atheistical  system  ;  but  though  she  Avas  more  than  iu- 
diff'ercuit  on  the  subject  of  religion,  her  naturally  strong 
mind  discovered  the  holloAvness  of  his  reasoning.    It 
was  remarked  that  she  Avould  fi-equently  puzzle  the 
philoso[)her  by  the  little  interrogatiA'e — Avhy  ?     And  as 
he  could  not  satisfy  her  objections,  she  Avas  determiucd 


■  -fTTS'-" 


IN  North  America. 


231 


to  examine  thoroughly  the  grounds  of  revelation. 
Though  having  no  religion  herself,  she  was  determined 
to  instruct  her  children  in  one.  She  opened  the  Bible 
merely  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  her  children  the 
historical  part  of  it.  The  beauty  of  revealed  truth, 
notwithstanding  the  impediment  of  indifTercnco  and 
unbelief,  would  sometimes  strike  her — her  mind  being 
of  that  mould  which,  according  m  Tertullian,  is  natu- 
rally Christian. 

A  terrible  illness  called  her  mind  back  to  God  ;  she 
saw  the  truth  and  beauty  of  tlie  CathoUc  faith,  and  she 
returned  to  the  protection  of  Mary  on  the  Feast  of  St. 
Augustine,  in  the  woek  following  the  Octave  of  Our 
Lady's  Assumption. 

It  is  to  the  happy  influence  and  bright  example  of 
his  mother,  t^^  whom,  under  God,  we  must  mainly  as- 
scribe  the  conversion  of  the  young  Demetrius.  As  the 
illustrious  Bishop  of  Milan,  St.  Ambrose,  consoled  the 
mother  of  Augustine,  when  he  used  to  say  "  that  it  luas 
impossillefor  a  son  to  he  lost  for  icliom  so  many  tears  ivere 
shed;'''  so  we  may  believe  that  the  pious  Furstcnberg, 
her  son's  tutor,  cheered,  In  a  similar  manner,  this  good 
liuly,  in  her  intense  solicitude  for  a  son  Avhom  she  so 
tenderly  loved. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  the  young  prince  was  re- 
ceived into  the  Church.  He  was,  in  the  year  1702,  ap- 
pointed aid-de-camp  to  the  Austrian  General  Von  Lil- 
ian, who  commanded  an  army  in  Brabant  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  first  campaign  against  Iho  French  Jacobins. 
The  sudden  death  of  the  Emperor  Leopold,  and  tho 


232 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


<^ 


inimlor  of  tlio  king  of  Swcdcu  by  Ankorstrom,  both 
suspccUicl  to  bo  tlio  work  of  tlio  Frciicli  Jacobins  wlio 
had  iloc'larc'd  war  u/ainst  all  kings  and  all  rc^ligions, 
caiisod  the  govoiiimonts  of  Anstria  and  Prussia  to 
issuo  a  very  strict  order  disqualifying  all  foreigneivs 
from  military  ollicca.  In  consequonco  of  this  order  the 
yoiuig  Prince  do  Gallitziu  was  excluded,  llussia  not 
taking  any  part  in  tlie  war  against  Franco,  there  Avas 
no  occasion  oliered  to  him  for  pursuing  the  professiou 
of  arms  for  which  ho  had  boon  destined  by  his  military 
education.  It  was  therefore  determined  by  his  parcuitis 
that  ho  should  travel  abroad  and  make  the  grand  tour. 
Ho  was  allowed  two  years  to  travel ;  and  lest,  in  tlio 
mean  timc^,  his  acquirements,  tlio  fruits  of  a  very  Hu- 
ishod  education,  might  suiler,  ho  was  placed  mider  tlio 
guidance  of  the  Bev.  Mr.  Brosius,  a  young  missionary 
then  about  to  embark  for  America,  with  whom  his 
studies  were  to  bo  still  continued.  In  the  conq)any  of 
this  excellent  clergyman  ho  reached  the  United  States 
in  1702. 

The  next  we  need  see  of  him  is  as  a  seminarian  with 
the  Sulpicians  in  Baltimore,  November  5,  1792.  Iii 
this  moment  of  his  irrevocable  sacrifice  of  himself  to 
God,  the  feelings  of  his  inmost  soiil  may  bo  gathered 
from  a  letter  which  he  wrote  at  the  time  to  a  clergy- 
man of  Muuster,  in  Germany.  In  it  he  begs  him  to 
prepare  his  mother  for  the  stop  ho  had  finally  taken, 
and  informs  him  that  he  had  sacrificed  himself,  with 
all  that  lu.  possessed,  to  the  service  of  God  and  the 
salvation  of  his  neighbor  in  America,  where  the  hur- 


IN  NoiiTii  Ameuica. 


233 


vest  was  so  groat  and  tlio  laLovcrs  so  few,  and  whore 
tho  niissioiiary  liiid  to  rido  friiquontly  forty  aihl  lifty 
miles  a  diiy,  nndor;j;()ln}^'  dillicultios  and  d.iiit^'ors  of 
every  d(;sori|)tion.  H(!  adds,  tluit  ho  doubtod  not  hiy 
call,  as  ho  was  willing  to  subjoct  himsolf  to  suc;h  ardu- 
ous labor. 

Fiithor  Etionno  Badin  was  tho  first  priost  ordained 
iu  tho  United  St:it(>s ;  Prineo  Oallit/in  Avas  tho  sooond, 
and  ho,  as  early  as  17'.)'J,  was  settled  for  life  in  tho 
then  bleak  and  savage  region  of  tho  Alleghanios. 
From  his  post  to  Lake  Erie,  froni  tho  Susqui^hanna  to 
tliu  Potonnic,  tliorc  was  no  priest  n)  ehurch,  no  re- 
ligious station  of  any  kincL  Tliinx,  tlion,  of  tho  in- 
evitable labors  and  privaticnis  of  this  missionary ;  and 
again  understand  how  tho  devotion  to  Mary  has  spread 
over  North  America. 

During  long  missionary  excursions,  frequently  his 
bed  was  tho  l)aro  lloor,  his  pillow  the  saddle,  and  tho 
coarsest  and  most  forbidding  faro  constituted  his  re- 
past. Add  to  this,  that  ho  was  always  in  feeble  health, 
always  infirm  and  delicjftcs  in  tho  extreme,  and  it  was 
ever  a  nuitter  of  wonder  to  others  how  tho  little  he  ato 
could  support  nature  and  hold  together  so  fragile  a 
frame  as  his.  A  veritable  imitator  of  Paul,  "  ho  was  iu 
labor  and  painfuluess,  in  watching  often,  in  hunger 
and  thirst,  in  fasting  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness." ' 

^Vlien  he  first  began  to  reside  permanently  on  tliis 
mountain,  iu  1779,  ho  found  not  more  than  a  doacii 


»  2  Cor.,  xi. 


234 


Devotion  to  the  B.  Y.  Mai.y 


Catliolics,  scnttorcd  here  ami  there  through  a  tracklosa 
forest  He  first  settleil  on  a  form  generously'  left  by 
':hf  "i;  fTU've  family  for  the  maintouanco  ol  a  priest. 
A  f'13.1'''  log-chureh,  of  some  tw(!uty-five  or  thii'ty  feet, 
v.v;  Mii  icient  for  a  ecmsiderahle  time  for  the  first  little 
flocic  thai  .. oi'shii)pecl  according  to  the  faith  of  thtir 
fathers  on  the  Alleghany.  He  commenced  his  colony 
Avith  twelve  heads  of  families;  lu;  left  behind  him 
when  he  died  six  thousand  devotees  of  Marv. 

But  the  })()pulation  grew  rapidly,  allured  by  the 
saintly  reputaticm  of  Father  Smith.  It  was  he  m-^"^ 
purchased  enormous  tracts  of  land,  who  built  the  grist 
and  saw  mill,  he  wluj  found  himself  oppressed  by  d(])t 
in  his  old  age.  Of  coiirse  he  expected  his  father's  in- 
heritance, and  when  that  prince  died  in  I8O0,  he  was 
pressed  to  quit  his  beloved  Loretto  and  go  to  cl;iii'> 
his  rii^hts  in  Ttussia.  His  mother  and  friends  urged 
him  to  come  ;  h.is  prelate  was  on  the  point  of  com- 
manding hiin  ;  Ijut  when  he  met  Bishop  Carroll,  ho 
gave  reasons  for  remaining  among  his  flock  Avhich  that 
prelate  could  not  in  the  end  refute.  He  stated  that 
he  had  caused  a  great  number  of  Catholic  families  to 
settle  in  a  Avild  and  uncultivated  region,  where  they 
formed  a  parish  of  a  considerate  size ;  that  the  Legis- 
lature had  ])ropos(3d  to  establish  there  a  county-seat ; 
and  that  numbers  still  continued  to  flock  thither.  The 
bishop  nt  length  fully  acquiesced  in  his  remaining,  as 
he  could  not  send  another  in  his  place.  The  apostolic 
missionary  then  w^rote  to  his  mother,  that  whatever  ho 
might  gain  by  the  vryage,  in  a  temiwral  point  of  view, 


J 


IN  North  America. 


235 


could  not,  in  liia   cstiiaation,  be  coinparccl  with  the 
loss  of  a  miijle  so  il  that  might  bo  occasioned  by  his 

Had  ho  gone,  it  would  ha^'o  boon  in  vain,  for  the 
Emperor  and  Senate  of  St.  Petersburg  settled  the 
question  by  disinheriting  hini  for  "having  embraced 
tlio  Catholic  faith  and  clerical  profession."  Nevei'^he- 
loss,  he  hoped  to  share  with  his  sister,  who  ha  iL 
horited  all.  And  she  did  supply  him,  until  the  uul  ' 
German  Prince  de  Solm,  whom  she  had  marri'  n^  de 
away  witli  her  fortune  as  he  had  done  with  his  .wv. 
Then  came  his  days  of  debt,  dreariest  of  n.'  dcWs  to 
men.  Put  he  lived  so  that  none  should  si.ii'er  but 
himself.  He  neither  ato  nor  drank  nor  Avas  clothed  at 
the  expense  or  loss  of  any  creditor  or  others.  His 
fare  was  often  but  some  black  bread  and  a  few  vege- 
tables ;  cofTeo  and  tea  were  unknown  luxuries  in  those 
times.  His  clothing  was  home-made  and  of  the  most 
homely  description ;  his  mansion  was  a  miserable  log- 
hut,  not  denied  even  to  the  poorest  of  the  poor.  With 
the  prodigal  son  of  the  Gosjxd,  but  in  a  most  meritori- 
ous and  heroic  sense,  he  could  say  :  "  How  many  hired 
servants  in  my  father's  house  havo  plenty  of  bread, 
and  I  here  perish  with  hung,  j !" ' 

"  Being  now,"  he  says,  "  in  my  sixty -seventh  year, 
burdened,  moreover,  with  the  remnant  of  my  debts, 
reduced  from  $18,000  to  about  §2,500,  I  had  better 
spend  my  few  remain iug  yeai'S,  if  any,  in  trying  to 


'  St.  liUke's  Gospel,  xv. 


23G 


Devotion  to  the  13.  V.  Mary 


pjiy  oil'  that  buliinec,  ami  in  prt'[)aiiiig  for  a  loii{,'or 
journey." 

On  that  Lorolto  of  liis  lovo  he  (^xpondcd,  from  tlio 
wroi^k  of  his  fortuno,  $15l),()00.  So  is  it  uitli  the,  svv- 
vitors  of  Mary.  Threo  eonturios  aj^o,  th(>y  }^avo  their 
boilies  to  bo  burned,  their  hcMids  to  thi>  sealpinj^'-litiit'e, 
their  lin«:;er-joint8  to  tho  teeth  of  the  Jrocjuois;  later, 
they  gave  their  hves  ami  foi  tunes,  countin|^'  them  as 
nothing  if  so  they  might  win  souls  to  Christ.' 

Let  his  friend  and  bioti"a])her  tell  tho  secret  of  all 
this,  and  thus  show  ■svhat  a  Muscovito  priuco  can  have 
in  common  with  this  book  : 

"As  ho  had  taken  for  his  models  tho  Lives  of  llio 
Saints,  tho  Francis  of  Sales,  the  Charles  Bovroiueos,  tho 
Viuconts  of  Paul,  so  like  thom  ho  was  distingnislied  for 
Lis  tender  and  lively  devotion  to  tho  lUessed  Virgin ; 
and  ho  lost  no  opportunity  of  extolling  tho  virtues  of 
Mary.  Ho  endeavored  to  bo  an  imitator  of  her  ((.s  she 
tvas  of  Christ,  Ho  recited  //(/■  ro.sdri/  varij  d'eiiiiuj 
ainomj  liis  /loiiscliohl,  and  inculcated  constantly  on  his 
people  this  admirable  devotion,  antl  all  the  other  pious 
exercises  in  honor  of  Mary.  The  church  in  which  he 
said  daily  Mass,  he  had  dedicatetl  under  the  invoca- 
tion of  tliis  ever-glorious  Yiigin,  whom  all  nations 
"were  to  call  blessed.  It  Avau  in  h'ono)'  of  Mary,  and  to 
place  his  people  under  her  peculiar  patronage,  that  ho 
gave  the  nanjo  of  Loretto  to  the  town  ho  founded  here, 


'  Omnia  detrimentum  feci  ut  aibitror  ut  btercora  ut  Christum  lucri- 
laciam. — Piiil.  iii.  8. 


IN  NOUTII  AMKltlCA. 


237 


flftor  Iho  fai-fiUiKul  ]i«)r(lt(>,  wliicli,  towcnii;^  iiliovu  llio 
l>lii(!  \viiv(!  of  tlio  Adriatic,  on  \\\v.  Italian  coast,  (>x- 
liihils  to  llui  (Christian  [)il^riiii  Uu;  hallowed  iiiid  !iia;^- 
uiliceiit  tciiipli!  which  contains  the  Hainttul  sluino  of 
Muvy'y  huiiihlc  /lonsc  ill  irhicli  ,v//c  iit  Xirjinl/i  liciinl  aii- 
noumvd  the  tiii/sfcri/  of  the  IiiriLfiinlloii,  and  ^vhicll  tlio 
inarinci.-i,  ns  Ihoy  pass  to  tnicountcr  the  jx"! ils  of  tho 
doc]>,  or  return  in  safety  from  them,  salute,  chanting 
t!io  joyous  hymn,  Ave  3[ayis  SteUn  !  l'\jr,  like*  St.  John, 
ho  reco^Miized  in  her  a  mother  reconnnended  to  him 
hy  the  words  of  tlu!  dying  Jesus :  "  ilu  saitli  tt)  tho 
disciph',  Jlehold  thy  mother !"  And  so,  when  the  I'ranio 
was  worn  out  in  her  service  and  Ler  Idoii's,  lio  went  up 
to  sec  lier  i'aco  on  high.' 

Proceeding  in  the  order  proposed  to  ourselves,  we 
give  tli»i  lirst  place  to  Lliut  which  bears  the  name  of 
Our  Lady. 


'  Piscoureo  on  tlio  Lifo  and  Virtues  of  IJov.  Donictiius  Augustine 
(lallit/in,  by  tho  Very  Kfv.  'nioinns  llcydcn.  Printed  for  tho  Monu- 
mi'utal  (to  Princo  Gnllitzin)  t'oniniiltci!  of  l.oroito,  Piiin.  .'•'nnn  thia 
eloquent  discoiiryo  lu-arly  the  whole  of  thu  ubovo  uccouut  is  tukou. 


238 


DEVonoA  J.0  B.  V.  Maiiy 


CHAriER  XII. 


Our  Lai)v  ok  tub  Lake. 


hi 


XoT  knig  ago,  iu  ISiU,  in  tbo  old  town  of  JNliins,  lu 
CuUiolie  I'riiiK'o,  a  holy  uuJ  duvotcd  priest,  Movoau, 
was  profi'ssor  of  dogma  iu  tlio  beummiy  and  canon  of 
tlitj  catlu'drul  in  the  town.  Ho  was  oloiinent,  zi-alous, 
and  one  t)f  the  grandest  preachers  iu  I'rauce.  Ho 
gave  up  much  of  his  tijuo  to  i)reaching  retreats ;  that 
is,  to  the  leading  of  his  tiock  away  from  the  world,  to 
the  "quiet  pastures  and  still  waters,"  wliero  is  tlio 
presence  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  wJiose  crook  and  staff 
rule,  guide,  guard,  lead;  who  "  restoreth  th<^  souls" 
of  the  erring,  the  weary,  and  the  so-called  lost,  and 
gi.etli  them  to  eat  and  to  drudi  of  His  own  table, 
whereat  is  "  fulness  for  evermore." '  After  many  years 
thus  passed,  his  bishop  authorized  him  to  form  an 
.auxiliary  society  of  priests  to  aid  him  in  this  ])astoral 
labor.  He  accordingly  associated  with  himself  four 
pious  and  devoted  clergymen,  with  whom  he  lived  a 
regular  community  life  in  the  seminary  for  over  a  year. 

About  this  time,  or  a  few  years  previously,  a  com- 
munity of  a  dillerent  kind  had  becm  founded  in  the 
same  diocese,  by  the  Very  Eev.  Mr.  Dujarier,  one  of 


'  Psalm,  xxii. 


^ 


maiii  I'u^ ■■.-'< ,r     ^»,v.  ,^-^ 


IN  North  A>friiicA. 


2nf) 


tho  vcuoraMo  HurvivorH  of  tlio  Tl(n'olution.  It  ronsistcil 
of  11  liaiul  of  (li'votfd  iiK'ii,  mostly  yoniij:?,  wlio,  witlioiit 
aspiiiii^'  to  tlio  tH't'loHiiisticdl  stiito,  yc^t,  iininmlcd  l)y  ;i 
tnu  /('ill  to  liil)or  for  CJod's  ^'lory  ami  tlu>  s.-ilvation  of 
souls,  li.ul  formod  tlu'iusclvcs  into  a  vcli^ioiiM  com- 
uumity  mulor  tlio  titlo  of  tlm  ]}i'otli(n-s  of  St.  Joscpli, 
consccvutiii;^  tlioiuHiilvoH  to  tlio  Clivistiiin  cHliication  of 
yoiitli,  ami  liaviiiL?  no  hii^hcr  aim  than  to  imitate  the 
liuuiMc  and  liiddon  life  of  their  holy  patron. 

Then,  luo  viars  later,  nun'(>d  by  the  scilf-sacrifico  r f 
those  {.,'ood  nun,  some  picm.s  and  devoted  women  of  tho 
li\niil4('r  elass  of  society  olFiU'ed  themselves,  from  a 
motivi)  of  holy  eharity  and  zral,  to  oonduet  tht>  woi-l< 
of  ilio  cstidilisium^nt,  and  to  .s(U've  those  good  Priests 
and  Ih'othcrs  as  the  holy  women  of  the  Gospel  did  oiir 
Haviwui  and  his  disciph'S.  God  wilh^d  it  (hat  this 
event  should  insjiirc*  our  worthy  founder  with  the  idea 
of  establishing,  as  a  third  branch  of  tho  association,  a 
sisterhood  to  eo-operatti  Avith  the  two  former  branches 
in  all  their  pious  labors,  and  to  labor  themselves  in  a 
particular  manner  IVu"  tho  benefit  of  the  youth  of  their 
own  sex ;  the  whole  association  thus  forming  a  united 
and  most  efiieient  body,  able  to  act  in  concert  ii[)on  all 
classes  of  society.  Under  the  training  of  the  saintly 
Superiu.  ss.  Mother  Mary  of  St.  Dorithei,  Juet,  they 
made  a  fervent  and  regular  novitiate,  and  were,  one 
year  afterw.'vds,  admitted  to  the  religious  profe?sion 
urdur  the  mime  of  "Sisters  of  the  Holy  Crjss,'  and 
patronage  of  Oar  Lady  of  the  Seven  Soi'r()ii>\ 

They  were,  said  their  founder,  to  seek    Ixod  in  all 


210 


Devotion  to  tuk  B.  V.  Mary 


tliiu{^rt,  to  !ilm  only  at  licaveu,  to  aspire  to  tlui  liiip])!- 
xios«  ol'  i)()sse,sKiiig  Jesus,  of  beloui^ing  only  to  Hini  uiid 
to  Ills  lilcKscd  Mother,  making  iiso  of  all  intcirc^sts, 
rights,  or  i;ot)Js  for  the-  solo  honor  of  their  ])iviu(>. 
Master  iiiid  the  salvation  of  sonls.  They  were  to  lead 
a  life  of  aInie_!j,ation  in  all  employments  ajjd  exercises, 
nevir  aelip.j^;  save  by  the  'will  of  a  Superior;  a  life 
regular  ami  exact,  by  constant  and  universal  lidelity  to 
the  rules  aiid  constitutions  of  tlio  Society,  observing 
them  in  the  spirit  of  love  and  not  of  fear,  by  the  light 
of  faitli  and  not  through  hunnui  motives;  a  life  social 
by  humilit}',  in  meeldj'  bearing  or  charitably  support- 
ing otluu's,  accomplishing  to  the  letter  tlu;  iiiMxiiu  of 
tlio  pifais  author  of  the  Imitation,  of  mutually  sui)port- 
ing,  ct)nsoliug,  aiding,  instructing,  and  admouishiiig 
one  aiiother ;  a  life  edifying  by  modest}',  tlu>.  forgett'ul- 
ueHS  of  st'lf,  ]'eligi(ms  gravity,  avoiding  in  conversatiou 
all  critii'isms,  raillery,  and  above  all,  hnity ;  a  life  of 
labor— a  litV;  Ulterior  and,  elevated  to  God  by  tlie  habit- 
ual practice  of  tjie  acts  of  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity, 
by  the  iwample  of  Jesus  Christ,  whom  we  are  partic- 
ularly bound  to  imitate  in  our  conduot,  for  A\e  nuist 
above  all  lead  a  life  hidden  in  our  Lord,  if  we  would 
not  ruin  the  work  of  the  Holy  Cross. 

"  Here,"  he  says,  "  are  throe  orders  subordinsitc  oiio 
to  the  otlii'r,  an  imitation  of  the  Holv  Familv,  where 
Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph,  although  of  conditions  so 
dilierent,  are  made  one  by  the  union  of  thoughts  ami 
the  uuifjrni'ty  of  conduct. 

"  lu  ordci  to  cement  this  union,  and  this  imitatiou 


IN  Noivrn  Ameuica. 


2^1 


of  Bio  IIol}'  Fiiiuily,  I  havo  consocrutcid,  and  coiisc- 
crate  again  as  nntcli  as  in  mo,  tlio  Priosts,  to  tlio  Sacrod 
Heart  of  Josns,  Pastor  of  souls — tho  I'rotlicrs,  to  the 
Heart  of  St.  Josopli,  tlioir  patron;  and  tlio  Sisters,  to 
tlio  Heart  of  Mary,  piorcod  Avith  tlio  sword  of  j^riof. 

"]]eliold,  my  dour  oliildron  in  Jesus  Christ,  tlio  plan 
of  govonunont  which  it  is  tho  Avill  of  God  should  bo 
followed  ill  tho  administration  of  Our  Lady  of  Holy 
Cross." 

The  Hishop  of  Vinccniics,  Monaoignour  do  St.  Pa- 
lais, desires  to  have  those  children  of  St.  ]\[ary  to  help 
Liiu  in  extending  her  renown  tiirougli  tlu>.  west  of 
Northern  America.  So  Father  Sorin,  still  Superior, 
comes  Avitli  six  brothers.  They  "bless  God  and  his 
Holy  Mother"  for  their  safe  arrival,  and  they  claim 
jiossession  of  the  soil  "  in  the  name  of  tho  Cross,  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  of  St.  Joseph." ' 

Monseigncur  sends  his  now  colony,  Dhilrin  ciilfores 
Dei,  to  the  nortliern  part  of  Indiana,  about  thirty 
miles  south  of  Lake  Michigan.  This  section  had  been 
sceured,  years  b(>fore,  by  tho  proto-priest  of  the 
Uiiit(>d  States,  He  v.  Father  Bad  in  ;  his  efforts,  how- 
ever, had  only  been  crowned  by  the  erection  of  a  little 
leg-church,  and  a  poorer  log-house.  But  the  situation 
is  Olio  of  extreme  hciauty — not  grandeur  ;  for  northern 
huliaiia  can  claim  nothing  of  the  sublime  or  grand  in 
lier  scenery.     Yet  tlio  nonotony  of  her  low  land  and 


'  Vide  Life  of  Hi-v.  V.  Cointct,  Prii'st,  .and  Missionary  of  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  Holy  Cross.     Cincinnati,  18o5. 
R  11 


242 


1>KV()IU)N    TO   THK   15.  Y.    ]\[aUY 


praiiii's  is  ficciucntly  (livt'isillrd,  uiul  llio  clianuitiT  of 
tlic  lu'Miiliriil  i;iv(M»   ii  bv  cIcmi',  placid,  lilllc  lalics,  sui- 


I'OllIll 


l.'.l    I 


>\ 


;('iitl\-    iiiu 


liilaii 


)l:iiiis. 


Til 


(MU'sUon    t'diilaiiH't 


1    1 


wo    o 


r  11 


i('S(>    picasa 


ni 


anil    111 


aucs. 


Iiii'ii    liidiau    tradition    had  attai'lu'd   many  a  talc  vf 


ciu'liantiiicn 


1) 


cdicatiii;.;-    t!iis    spot    to 


Not 


re 


I); 


niic    ( 


lu    I 


jac 


Father  S<iriii  scirctt'd  a  chai'ininL;'  little  island,  in  tli(i 
largest  lake,  as  the  site  I'or  two  ii(>w  novitiates  oih; 
he  hoped   lo  train  I'or  his  new  mission, 


llesis 


for  tlu>  1' 

and  the  otiier  for  tiie    i'rothcrs.      A   heantirnl  situati( 
as  also  chosen  on  the  lianks  ol"  th(>  lake  I'or  the  t'litii! 


)ii 


M 


)11 


college 

d(MlCt\ 


;  then,  with  linn  conlideiice  in  Divine  Provi- 
he  spent  tlu>  \viiit(>r  in  collecting  the  scattci'cd 
Catholics  of  tlu>  neighhorhood  into  a  rt>gnlar  congrega- 
tion, in  t'oriiiing  his  Xovitiateof  the  I'rothcrs,  ;!iid  at- 
teiiiling  to  the  temporal  Avants  of  his  little  I'olony. 

At  this  jHM'ioil.  the  aid  so  long  and  eariu^stly  desirivl 
l>v  this  din()i(>d  missionary  was  fnvnish(>d  in  the  per- 
son of  his  former  hclovcd  friend,  the  yonng  Ahhi'' 
Cointet,  he  who  in  youth  had  made  this  r(*sohilioii - 
"To  give  np  sonu>  time  every  day  to  reading  liolv 
books."     TluMi,  in  his  journal,  after  that,  he  adds  : 

"For  th(>  sanu^  intention,  I  shall  say   tlu>  l\osary. 
Since   an   (Mrlv  a^e  I  have  boon   consecrated  to  tlio 


r.i 


esse( 


lY 


u'Liin,  aui 


1  to  hi 


er  earo  have  I  con 


tided 


my 


clias- 


titv.     I  will  study  attentividy  tlit^  virtues  of  this  Holy 
iMotlun-,  to  whom  I  am  stiictly  bound  to  liave  many 


ds  wl 


n.m\ 


traits  of  r(^semblanci%  and  tow  an 

desire  to  fci'l  all  the  iendenu>ss  of  a  true  child. 


art 


lenth 


IN  Noirrii  Amkuioa. 


2i:j 


So,  tli(>n,  Ihoro  aro  two  ])rl<i8ts  ;  liov/  ftp()st()li(!,  in 
out'  j)()iiil,  ilicsii  woi'ds  of  Father  Soriii  liiiiisi'lf  sliull 


liinl 


PilsSCSlCI 


"  Vov  sDiiK^  y(^ars  \]\o.  w.'irdroho  of  F.-tllicv  Tointot 
jci'.il  liis  Sii|H'ri()r   \v;is   considered  v<'r_y  full   wlieii   lliey 

1  ;i,  I'uir  of  Imals  jtiid  <i  /kiI  ;is  properly  in  coiii- 
iii:>i!.  The  l)oo^s  lie  iulroitly  in;niiij';ed  nol  io  we.'ir 
riiilil  tliev  li;id    pMssed    iliron.i^li    tlie  sl;!;j,('S  of   ij'Oil  niid 

I,  ])id  t.lie  ]\;\{,  could   liol.  l)e  so  eiisiiv  lii;ui:i<!(^d. 


/'  iHiirri  II 


thcvi 


Iteil 


!;.;■  no  :di<M'n;iiive  except  Io  i 


;ice 


He  ecclesi- 


;isli.':i 


1  S(|u;ii'i-  c;i])  Ity  Die  l)(\'iver,  when  on  llie  Alission. 
A('('i>i(lin''lv,   if  l'\-i,lhei'  Coiiilei,  w;is   recognized    ridin'' 


01  walKi 


111''  oil'  willi  a.  lial.  on   ]iis  head,  il 


\va' 


mown  to 


Oil'  inendxM's  of  llie  ]illl(!  coininunily  tltat  tlie  Sii[)erior 


\v;is  at  lioiue 


A  11.1 


now,  u 


liai  <~ls(^  is  Io   1)0  said    of  tlu 


sc  (levo 


tod 


so'.iN  shall  no!  ])o  in   llie  words  of  hitii  whose  name  is 


'i;i  the  ti'.le-oa'i""'    < 


)f  lliis  liook,  l)iit  in  those  of  a,  sister 


(if  th(>  order,  of  a.  servant  of  AFary  at  tlu^  foot  of  the 
C^ross.  As  "  Xi'tro  Dame  dn  Lac"  n'  v  stands,  it  liolds, 
various  establislnneiils  circling;  the  ])leasant  waters 


m 


.ftllelaI^ 


e,  a  colleu"( 


11( 


a,  manna 


Idal 


)or  scliooi 


a  con 


vent 


ill  its  pojiidar  sense,  tlie  initiatory  schools  of  the 
l)rotliers,  and  the  siMninary — all  and  each  of  those 
soltMiiiily  (h'dicatiMl  in  1.S15  to  deyotiou  to,  and  placed 
iuiil(n"  the  special  protection  of,  the  ])](>ssed  Mother  of 
(iod.  St.  iNFary's  Lake  is  thus  (>nch'eled,  and  over  all, 
line  liundred  and  ten  feet  from  tlu^  ground,  stands  the 
st;itno  of  "])l(*ssed  amon<if  Avomen."  She  looks  with 
lov(>  upon  the  apprentices  of  the  manual-labor  school 


244 


Dfa'oticn  to  the  B.  Y.  jMahy 


in  their  (Hffcvriit  wovksliops  niid  fields  ;  ilio  rjvollicrs 
ill  tluMT  (iui(>t  noviliate;  tlie  seiiiiniiriir's-  in  llieir  lioly 
solitutlf.  And  (»n"  a  mile  to  tlie  Avest,  lier  eve  I'csts  dis- 
tiiK'lly  111)011  the  iiislitutions  of  the  Sisters  of  i\\o  saiiio 
ordfM',  dwclliii:,'  under  the  titk>  of  I'U.  IMiirv's  of  tlio 
Imiiiaenlaf(>  Conc-eiitioii. 

T1i(>  C'atliolie  ]mpils  of  liotli  plaees  ;ire  (MiroUiul  in 
the  sodalities  of  the  Children  of  j\[arv  and  the  Livincr 
Rosarv. 

Every  Saturday  (^veiling  tlu^  Litany  of  Lorctto  is 
solemnly  eliantt>(l  in  the  conventual  churches. 

The  ^Fonth  of  ^[ary  is  here  mad(>  a  gloi'ious  festival 
of  thirty- one  days.  I'enediction  of  tlui  ]^)h>ss(Ml  Sacra- 
nv^nt  is  o-iven  ev(M'y  eveninp;,  and  n  discourse  pro- 
non!i('(>d  In-  one  of  the  Rev.  Fathers  in  honor  of  their 
TTeav(Mily  Qu(^(>n. 

The  Assnm]ition  is  annually  cfdehratel  by  n  solemn 
procession  aftm-  High  IMass.  On  that  day  (>vei'v  pic- 
turesque s]iot  is  adorned  Avith  some  memento  of  the 
Queen  of  Heaven.  Arches  ornannMited  with  ]wv  image 
point  th(>  route  to  iho  pious  pilgrims,  and  the  murmur- 
ing AvatcM's  of  the  lake,  the  songs  of  the  birds,  and  all 
the  ])leasant  sounds  of  midsummer  in  the  green  woods, 
together  with  the  iovous  chime  of  twentv-oiio  hells  in 
the  church-tower,  unite  to  form  a  triumphal  chorus  to 
the  happy  voices  of  the  children  of  Notre  Damo  as 
they  intone  the  Litan}^  of  Loretto,  the  3far/nijicnl  and 
the  Sidrc  Tici/hia. 

Devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  may  truly  ho  said  to 
I)    the  presiding  spirit  of  the  place.     Private  chapels 


IN  Nnrrn  A:\rEPjrA. 


215 


in  ]\or  lio7ior  nvo  in  oxery  honso.  Tlio  irrTonnds  arr^ 
fulorncd  willi  stutm^s  of  tho  Miulonna  and  ("liild  itiul 
of  ili(>  Iimiificnlato  Concoption.  At  Notr<^  l);nno  a 
]uxuvi;n)i  nvbov,  at  least  an  cij^litli  of  a  niih;  in  Iciii^tli, 
(Icdicatoil  to  Noire  /hniic  mix  Jidisiiis,  1  tears  ('()MS[)i(;u- 
ously  on  tivcry  arcli  the  diUercnt  titles  of  thci  Litany  of 
Loretto. 

In  tlie  conventnnl  church  is  the  altar  of  tlio  8cven 
Dolors,  above  which  is  a  lino  i^i-oii})  of  statuary  rejire- 
scutiiig  the  body  of  Our  Dlessed  Lord  taken  froin  the 
Cross,  and  laid  in  the  arms  of  his  INlother.  A  niajj;nifi- 
cout  stained  window  al)ovo  the  main  altar  r(>prosonts 
the  Assumi)tion. 

Ill  every  direction  the  ."pirit  of  Mary  seems  to 
hreadu!  and  inihienoo.  The  full  ecclesiastical  year 
sl'.onld  1)(^  [)assod  at  Notre  Damo,  in  order  to  inid(?T- 
st.iiid  lio'.v  every  festival  of  the  l^lessed  Virj^in  brings 
some  Tiew  or  tou(diing  evidence  of  the  love  which  the 
Society  of  Holy  C'l'oss  bears  to  Notre  Dame,  and 
which  it  se(>ks  to  instil  into  the  hearts  of  its  pupils. 

On  a  beautiful  little  promontoiy  opposite  th<  '1- 
Icge,  the  zeal  of  the  Superior  has  caused  to  be  ei  ted 
a  clia}H>l  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of  the  Angels.  Here 
the  Catholic  pxipils  spend  one  ni^ht  of  every  m<  U  in 
adoratioii  l^efcn-e  the  lUessed  Sacrament,  This  apel 
is  hnilt  on  the  exact  plan  of  the  celebrated  (  apel  of 
"Our  Lady  of  the  Angels,  or  the  Portiuncula,"  and  has 
been  eiu'iched  by  the  Holy  See  with  all  the  privileges 
of  that  world-renowned  pilgrimage  estaLlished  by  St.< 
Francis  of  Assisium. 


216 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


i 

':?:' 


These  privileges,  wliicli  have  made  "  St.  ]\rarj's  of 
the  Angels"  one  of  the  richest  treasures  in  Itr.ly,  con- 
sist of  })h_^nary  indulgences  gained  by  all  the  faithful 
Avho,  being  heartily-  sorry  for  their  sins,  go  t-"*  confes- 
sion, receive  Communion,  and  visit  the  chapel  beiweon 
the  first  and  ^  -ond  Yespers  of  the  22d  of  August — not 
one  indulgence  alone,  but  as  many  times  during  the 
day  as  the  faithful  enter  the  chapel  with  the  proper 
dispositions  will  they  gain  a  plenary  indulgence. 

TheF(^  immense  Hi)iritiial  blessings  were  granted  to 
the  praA'er  of  St.  Francis  by  the  visible  interci^ssion  of 
Marv,  and  bv  Jesus  Christ  himself.  During  six  Imn- 
dred  and  t\v(Mi[y-five  yeai's  the  devout  among  the 
peojile  of  Italy,  and  many  pilgrims  from  foreign  climes, 
have  assoml)led  at  Assisium  on  this  feast  of  grace  and 
morcv.  So  numerous  were  these  devotees,  that  it  is 
related  of  St.  E(^rnardine,  when  he  preached  at  St, 
]\rary's  of  the  Angels,  that  two  hundred  thousand  per- 
sons Avere  assembled  around  the  chapel. 

And  to  give  the  faithful  of  !North  America  an  oppor- 
tunity of  gaining  the  same  treasures,  and  in  the  same 
manner,  the  Society  of  Holy  Cross  has  transported,  as 
it  were,  this  chapel  with  all  its  spiritual  wealth  into 
our  midst. 

At  St.  Mary's  of  the  Immacidate  Conception,  the 
residence  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Ci'oss,  one  mile 
west  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Lake,  the  duplicate  of  the 
Santa  Casa,  or  Holy  House  of  Loretto,  has  been 
erected  as  the  special  chapel  of  the  childr(>n  of  Mary. 
This  chapel  has  also  been  cnriclied  by  the  Holy  See 


IN  North  America. 


247 


with  all  the  infliilgences  belonging  the  famous  pilgrim- 
age of  Lorctto. 

These  two  chapels  bring  to  our  own  land  the  two 
most  famous  shrines  of  Italy,  and  are  most  powerful 
means,  in  the  hands  of  the  religious,  of  promoting  in 
tlic  hearts  of  the  youth  intrusted  to  their  care  a  deep 
and  abiding  love  for  the  Blessed  Mother  ot  God ;  and 
may  we  not  hope  that  at  no  distant  day  love  for  Our 
Blessed  Lady  will  bring  many  a  pilgrim  to  these  two 
chapels,  in  crowds,  if  not  as  great,  at  least  as  fei'vent, 
as  tlioso  which  visit  the  original  chapels  in  Ital}^? 

The  Society  of  Holy  Cross  has  several  houses  of 
cfl":'itiou  established  in  different  parts  '■■;  ;^e  United 
States  and  Canada;  and,  as  at  Notre  xViaie  and  St. 
?tlary's,  so  do  they  all  aim  at  spreading  the  love  and 
(lovdtion  for  their  Holy  Mother  by  every  means  which 
tlu'ir  zeal  and  resources  Avill  present. 

The  consecration  of  this  order  was  made  on  the 
Fe.Mst  of  Our  Lady  of  Snows,  and  in  the  snows  of 
November  they  first  took  possession  of  the  old  log- 
clinrcli  and  tlie  adjacent  lands.  This  chuicli  had  been 
dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  by  the  early  French 
missionaries,  de  Seille  and  Petit,  and  here  these  holy 
men  had  taught  the  Indian  to  love  and  venerate  their 
Heavenly  Queen.  When  FatheT  Sorin  came  and  heard 
of  the  pioneer  devotion  of  the  American  proto-priest, 
lie  rejoiced  at  the  thought  of  laboring  in  this  domain, 
already  consecrated  to  his  Blessed  Mother.  Not  as 
owners  of  the  soil,  l)iit  as  faithful  and  devoted  servants 
of  Mary  did  the  first  meml)ers  of  Holy  Cross  com- 


248 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maby 


monco  tlunr  work.  Every  thing  was  to  ho  improved, 
every  Uiiiig  made  userul  or  Ix'aulil'nh  For  Mary's 
sali(>,  ihi'ir  Quihmi,  the  \:\\io  was  callcMl  St.  Mary's 
Lal;<'.  Plans  for  novitiate,  ehnreh,  mannal-hihor 
scliool,  and  c(rlleg(>,  ywvo  sketehed,  and  all  eonse- 
crat(Hl  to  Xutro  Danio,  and  all  the  land  Avas  Mary's 
liuul.  Notwithstanding  the  rigors  of  an  unusually 
sovore  winter,  zeal  for  the  glory  of  tlu^  august  Mother 
of  God  waruKHl  the  hearts  of  her  ehildreu  with  its 
anient  aiid  ginuu'ous  rays.  Often  during  the  tirst 
years  tlu^y  ui^-tually  suffered  for  laek  of  food  and  rai- 
ment. Their  favorite;  devotion  on  such  occasions  was 
tix;  thousand  Hail  Maries  said  in  coninum~a  devo- 
tion sliil  customary  among  the  members  of  the  cod- 
gregation. 

Let  us  Icani,  anionL!;  the  items  of  this  wondrous 
Ncith  .American  D(>votion  to  Mary,  how  these  sisters 
of  hers  ;ire  consecrated  to  her  Seven  Sorrows.  Let 
one  of  theni  still  speak,  and  tell  how  pleasing,  how 
dear  to  the  Queen  of  MartM's  must  be  the  devotion  to 
her  Sorrows  ;  how,  moiv  than  all  other  devotions,  it 
tends  to  supornaturalize  the  mind,  since  in  it  the  most 
wondei'^ul  divine  operations  mingle  with  the  conmion 
woes  and  sorrows  of  a  suffering  world  ;  and  it  ex- 
presses that  union  of  s<4f-abasement  and  self-obliviou 
in  which  all  the  greater  graces  of  the  spiritual  life  take 
root.  Devotion  to  the  Sorrows  of  Mary  iinites  us  to 
an  abiding  sorrow  for  sin.  It  is  all  stained  with  tlio 
precious  blood  of  our  dear  Lord,  and  thus  it  puts  uh 
into  the  -^ery  depths  of  His  Sacred  Heart. 


J 


IN  NOUTH  xVmERICA. 


249 


Tho  loss(ins  which  Our  Mother's  Sorrows  teach  \is 
arc  wanted  at  ahuost  every  turn  in  life ;  they  are  im- 
parted with  sue]!  loving  tmuhirness,  with  such  pathetic 
simplicity,  and  in  the  luulst  of  such  countless  simili- 
tudes between  our  sinless  Mother  and  our  sinful 
selves,  that  no  school  can  be  found  in  which,  so  much 
heavenly  wisdom  is  taught  so  winningly  as  in  the  Sor- 
rows <^f  Mary. 

Befoi'c  we  quit  this  pleasant  siibjcct,  let  us  see  that 
this  land  oi  Marj  vKvs  not  belong  solely  to  the  living, 
l)ut  also  to  tho  Kremory  of  tho  dead.  In  tho  parish 
graveyard  ohapel  stands  tho  statuary  group  of  the 
Mother  with  her  dead  Sou.  Over  tho  earth  wherein 
the  Sistoix  are  buried,  smiles  serenely  "  Our  Lady  of 
PefKv;"  ^\here  the  priests  and  seminarians  repose,  is 
the  statue  of  the  Immacidate  Conception.  Every- 
where Madonna,  sho  is  the  Lady  of  Lake  and  Land. 

T\1ien  recreation  calls  the  children   of  the  Sisters' 

school!-,  together,  among  other  pleasures  they  have  the 

rcailing  of  their  journal,  the  "Mystical  Rose."     It  was 

ill  this  that  a  Sister,  whose  heart  is  full  of  music  as  of 

(It^votloti,  sang  ill  sweet  iliythni  Iter  prayer  for  Nort^i 

Anu'i'ica.     Later,  we  will  st  o  thai   Litany  chanted  by 

the  Ursuline  nuns  before  Our  Lady  of   Swift   Help, 

Xo're  Daine  do   Vro)ii}>t   Scdn'rs,  during  the  battle  of 

New  Orleans,  in  1812  ;  now  let  us  read  the  hymn  of  a 

religious  of  Mai'}  's  Sorrows,  sung  in  this  time  jf  great 

uutional  pain  and  small  individual  charity : 

11* 


250 


Devotion  to  tiik  B.  V.  Mary 


STELLA  MATUTINA. 

0  Star  of  Morninp  I  doiiHO  tlw  clouds 

Tlmt  liover  round  oik  nation's  bark, 
And  liowlinij  winds  Kliricl;  tlirou,uh  her  shroud* 

As  on  sho  pU)ugha  tho  billows  dark. 
Oh,  show  thy  li^Hit!  thou  urt  our  guido, 

Thy  Virgin  brains  our  patli  nhall  lend, 
As  fearful  o'er  the  stormy  tide, 

Before  the  conquering  blast  wo  speed. 

O  Star  of  Morning !  pierce  the  gloom, 

And  gild  our  path  along  the  sea, 
Ere  anarchy  shall  boal  our  doom, 

And  chant  the  death-dirge  of  tho  free. 
From  St.  Augustine,  far  away, 

To  bold  St.  Lawrence'  northern  strand, 
From  San  Francisco  to  tho  bay 

That  waters  honored  Maryland, 

Deep  lovo  for  thee  with  mystic  power 

Hath  uiiuglcd  witli  our  nt^liou's  life, 
And  aided  us,  in  danger's  hour, 

'Gainst  wars  and  elemental  strife. 
O  Star  of  Morning !  'twas  thy  ray 

That  led  the  mariner  of  old 
Along  the  ocean's  trackless  way. 

Earth's  western  wonders  to  unfold. 

'Twas  love  for  thee  that  fired  his  breast, 

And  made  him  count  all  p(;rils  light. 
That  opened  to  the  cloud-girt  West, 

Thy  morning  beams  to  heathen  sight. 
0  Star  of  Daybreak !  when  tho  hand 

Of  bold  opjiresisiou  crossed  tlie  wave, 
Thy  shelter  sweet  in  Maryland 

Made  conscience  there  no  more  a  slave. 


M 


Thy  chosen  child,  Lord  Baltimore, 
Struck  off  tho  manacles  that  boimd, 

By  tyrant  power,  the  infant  shore, 

And  stamped  her  soil  true  freedom'?  ground. 


•'Vfi-i'  •       -..■AVi-M 


IN  NoHTii  America. 


251 


'TwfiB  tliore  tliut  Faltli— colostial  bird— 

First  fluiif?  aliroud  luu-  enrol  Imid ; 
And  thou,  fuir  Stur,  licr  nmtiiiM  biurd, 

Which,  Houriug  hcavouwuid,  piurcod  tho  cloud. 

Sweet  Orb  of  Dawn  1  It  was  thy  ray 

That,  croejunj^  through  tluj  western  wilda, 
IviHHcd  tho  broad  titreunis,  and  kindled  day 

Along  the  woodland's  dark  defiles, 
And  wok(!  a  song  ol"  jiraisc  tliat  wound 

Where  mighty  lakes  maji;stic  How  ; 
Memuon's  fumed  lyre  were  har.sliest  sound 

To  anthem  blest  that  hailed  thy  glow  ; 

The  touching  strain  so  old — so  now, 

The  words  we  ne'er  shall  ceaso  to  frame, 
Those  mystic  syllaMos  that  drew 

A  Ood  from  heaven  at  thy  sweet  name,— 
"  Hail,  full  of  grace !  the  Lord,  with  thee, 

On  earth  is  blessi'd  evermore;" 
And  (iiibrifl's  salutation  free, 

Eclioed  in  joy  from  pliore  to  shore ; 

And  savage  men  submissive  bowed, 

To  own  a  Saviour  crucified. 
While  Fjrror,  in  her  dusky  shroud, 

Sought  in  her  darkest  haunts  to  liide. 
Tho  waters  of  tlie  sylvan  lake, 

And  wildwood  stream  were  hallowed  then. 
By  sacred  touch  for  Jesus'  sake, 

And  Mass  was  sung  in  glado  and  glen ; 


And  crosses  in  the  wilderness 

Sprang  up  to  bless  primeval  shade. 
Where  lilies  wild,  and  water-cress. 

Alone  before  thanksgiving  made. 
0  peerless  Orb !  along  thy  wake, 

How  clear  thy  constellated  train 
Of  virgin  stars,  fair  saints  that  take 

Their  rank  along  the  ethereal  main 


#0. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.8 


1-25    1  1.4       1.6 

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Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  872-4503 


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,y 


Pkyo'I'ion  to  the  K  v.  Mauy 


A  coiiHtant  Imihiiifjcr  flioii  nrt 

Of  Uim,  tlio  Sou  of  lA^rhr  Divino, 
\Vlit>  (Irimk  Hwiii't  wiiriulli  from  tliy  piiro  lu-ftrt, 

Wliowi-  Wdiiilniiis  gnifii  lliroiigli  tlii'(^  dolli  uliiuul 
When  oliiiiliiiif),'  Htifl,  tlio  ((v<'n'm^  K'""^y> 

Thy  rmliaiil.  luiin  doi!'.  t:;i:u  tlu)  aky 
\Vc  know  i'Vi'  loiifi;  will  coiiio  tlio  day, 

W'l'  know  the  rising  Sun  is  iiijli. 

Oil,  yis.  wlton  o'er  our  sinful  souls 

'I'hy  f^i-niiil  rays  lu'Migiuint  fall, 
Our  MIt'ssi'il  Lord  His  lovo  unfolds, 

And  l\lt'rcy's  day  light  spri-ails  o'lT  all. 
Yi's,  thou  wilt  hriiig  to  us,  sweet  Star 

(\  nation  of  young  restless  life), 
Tlu!  liglit  of  pi  aee,  and  near  and  far 

^^'ill  cease  the  bitter  sound  of  strife. 


h  ^ 


Wo  ask  thy  aid  ;  wo  beg  thy  caro ; 

We  know  wo  cannot  plead  in  vain  ; 
So,  trustful,  through  the  murky  air 

We  hail  thee  with  thy  heavenly  train. 
O  blissful  Star!  words  cannot  framo 

Tho  gratitude  wi^  owe;  to  thee, 
As  ri'verent  now  we  name  thy  Nanio, 

And  meekly  supiiliiint  bow  tho  kuoo. 

Then  show  thy  light — thou  art  onr  guide  ; 

Thy  A'irgin  beams  our  path  shall  load, 
As  hopeful  o'er  tho  stormy  tido 

Before  tho  conquoring  blast  wo  spood. 

They  ediicato  in  tlio  love  of  Marv  five  thousand  five 
hundred  children.  IMiiry  Angola  is  the  Mother  Pro- 
vincial, and  Mary  of  the  Ascension,  Superior.' 

'  Letter  of  Very  Rev.  E  Sorin,  October,  1803. 


-';    r- 


IN  North  America. 


253 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


OuB  Lxny's  SrsTKna— Lks  S<kuk8  de  Notiib  Daub. 


Let  us  look  at  otlior  ordcn-H  of  lioly  women  wlio 
boar  tlio  iiamo  or  advance  the  devotion  to  Our  Ijlessed 
Lady  in  these  States.  In  fii'te(m  diocescis — i)erhaj)H  in 
more— you  find  Irs  Samrs  de  NMre  Dame,  Our  liady's 
Sisters;  and  they  are  engaged  teaching  thousands  to 
venerate  the  sacred  Mother  of  God.  Four  of  their 
houses  are  (1802)  in  the  diocese  of  Now  York,  eight 
are  in  Cincinnati,  three  in  New  Orleans,  three  in  far 
Monterey.  They  are  in  Baltimore  and  Oregon,  in 
Newark  and  Detroit,  in  Philadelphia  and  Boston — 
spreading  and  gi'owing  like  the  mustard  seed  of  the 
Gospel ;  covering  this  vast  continent  with  a  lace-work 
of  prayer,  and  education,  self-denial,  devotion,  and 
love  for  God  and  man,  yet  are  scarcely  sixty  years  in 
existence. 

It  is  amazing  how  much  of  fruit  for  North  Amer- 
ica, how  many  unreckcd-of  Llessings  to  its  headlong 
people,  sprang  from  the  horror  and  anguish  of  the 
French  Revolution.  These  Sisters  of  Our  Lady 
issued,  by  God's  will,  from  that  triumph  of  Satan  and 
Moloch,  as  lilies  from  the  putrid  fertilizers  of  the 
soil.    Marie  Louise,  Viscountess  de  Blin-Bourdon,  and 


254 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


MaJemoisollo  Julie  Billiart,  80uj][ht  refuge  in  Belgium 
from  the  merciless  iniquity  of  the  land  once  ruled  by 
St.  Louis.  And  here,  in  1804,  they  i^ronounced  their 
first  vows.  This  was  their  vow :  to  give  themselves, 
and,  by  the  efforts  of  their  lives,  to  extend  devotion  to 
the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  protected  by  the  Immacu- 
late Heart  of  Mary.  Next  year  they  venture  sixty 
liles  into  the  north  of  France,  to  Amiens,  and  there 
commence  their  work.' 

They  have  a  lodging,  it  is  evident,  and  some  room 
for  scholars — of  what  excellence  and  how  large  wo 
cannot  say ;  but  we  can  discern  one  pleasant  figure  at 
the  very  beginning.  It  is  the  figure  of  Sister  Ber- 
nardine,  wandering  about  the  streets  with  a  big  bell  in 
her  hands.  Gravely  along  the  wealthier  streets,  cou- 
rageously down  fetid  alley-ways,  and  into  quarters  of 
the  very  poor,  her  bell  chanting  Vivos  voco^  her  OAvn 
voice  translating  that  to  those  who  came  about  her ; 
and  at  length  her  heart  thrilling  with  gratitude  and 
love  to  gentle  Mother  Mary,  as  she  leads  some 
seventy  children  to  the  schools — sweet  first-fruits  of 
Our  Lady's  new  harvest  in  half-ruined  France.  By 
1807  the  Mother  House  is  well  established  at  Namur, 
and  begins  to  send  forth  its  colonies.  So  far  as  we 
can  ascertain,  the  first  flight  of  doves  from  this  cote 
was  a  long  one,  over  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  across 
half  a  continent  to  the  very  heart  of  this  country — to 

•  Notice  sur  I'ordre  des  Sceurs  de  Notre  Dame  do  Numur. 

•  "  I  call  the  living."    Part  of  tlie  old  inscription  ui)on  church  bells 
"  Vivos  voco ;  mortuoa  plango ;  sabbata  pango." 


IN  North  America 


255 


a  Belgium 
)  ruled  by 
Qced  tlieii' 
liemselves, 
levotiou  to 
e  Inimacu- 
iture  sixty 
,  and  tliere 

some  room 
w  large  wo 
mt  figure  at 
Sister  Ber- 
a  big  boll  in 
streets,  cou- 
quarters  of 
ICO,"  lier  own 
,  about  her ; 
ratitude  and 
leads  some 
arst-fruits  of 
France.    By 
)d  at  Namur, 
So  far  as  we 
■om  this  cote 
,  and  across 
country — to 


Cincinnati.     There  they  still  remain,  teaching  thirty- 
six  hundred  pupils  in  the  cathedral  city  alone. 

But  Ohio  does  not  satisfy  their  ambition.    Their 
next  flight  from  Namur  is  all  the  way  to  Oregon ;  to 
that  river  no  longer  to  be  known  as  one  that 
"  rolls  and  hears  no  sound 


Save  its  own  dasliing,'" 

but  a  stream  henceforth  to  show  the  shadow  of  the 
Cross,  and  to  mingle  the  song  of  its  waves  with  the 
music  of  Mass,  and  vespers,  and  convent  litany,  or  with 
the  sweet,  wild  notes  of  the  Indian  children,  as  they 
chant,  from  their  canoes,  their  hymn  to  Blessed  Mary  : 

Ayas  skokoum  ma'ika, 

Ewanissom  tlosli  Marie 

Eopa  sahale  taye. 

Wawa  pous  naika 

Pous  ka  kwa  yaka  temtom 

Naika  memmeloucht, 

Ayak  yaka  eskam  naika  sahale. 

In  thee  I  place  my  confidence, 

Oh,  Virgin,  strong  and  fair ;' 
Be  thy  protection  my  defence. 

Be  all  my  life  thy  care  1 
And  when  I  draw  my  latest  breath. 

And  seek  my  endless  lot. 
Obtain  for  mo  a  holy  death. 

And  then  forsake  me  not. 

It  was  under  the  charge  of  the  apostolic  de  Smet 
that  these  devoted  Sisters  of  Nore  Dame  made  their 

'  Bryant's  Thanatopsis. 

'  "  Pulchra  ut  luna,  terribilis  ut  castrorum  acies  ordiuata." — Cant 
Caaticoruiu,  vi.  9. 


256 


Devohon  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


t^tt 


..'^ 


long  journey  :  a  journey  vexed  with  many  storms,  and 
almost  linislicJ  by  one  off  the  coast.  Decks  were  swept 
clear  by  the  irresistible  waves  ;  sails  shivered ;  toij- 
masts  went  by  the  board ;  water-casks  completely 
emptied ;  no  soundings ;  nothing  but  guesses  as  to 
their  whereabouts,  and  these  guesses  proved  after- 
wards to  bo  wrong.  But  the  Sisters  were  calm,  and 
full  of  that  most  beautiful  courage  which  is  called  res- 
ignation :  full  of  resignation,  but  not  at  the  expense 
of  hope.  They  gather  in  their  cabin,  holding  there  to 
whatever  can  bo  seized  to  steady  themselves,  and  in- 
tone their  litany ;  they  make  a  new  vow  to  the  Immac- 
ulate Heart  of  Mary,  and  then  they  trust.  ^^'  and 
by  the  storm  subsides,  the  winds  abate,  the  waves  go 
down,  and  as  the  crimson  lustre  of  the  sunset  is  flung 
athwart  the  sea,  they  notice,  floating  towards  them, 
masses  of  long,  green,  salt-meadow  grass,  and  they 
know  by  it  that  the  shore  is  on  their  lee.' 

And  so  they  landed,  and  on  the  eve  of  the  Assump- 
tion of  Our  Lady  they  lodged  in  a  tent  on  the  banks  of 
the  Wallamette.  In  the  morning,  they  raised  aud 
adorned,  as  they  might,  a  little  altar,  and  Mr,  Blaneliot, 
afterwards  Archbishop,  offered  the  Holy  Sacrilice.  On 
the  second  day  of  the  Octave  they  reached  the  mission. 
It  was  a  house,  but  without  doors,  without  windows ; 
only  with  open  spaces  ready  for  such  luxuriiis.  Car- 
penters were  the  rarest  and  most  costly  articles  in 
Oregon  in  those  days.    "  Every  man  is  his  own  buiklei 

'  Annnles  do  lii  Propagation  do  la  Foi,  torn.  xvii.  483.    Luttredu 
Pere  de  Smut. 


y 


IN  North  America. 


257 


,ii.4«3.    Luttredo 


here,"  warj  the  consolation  -which  Our  Lady's  Sistcjrs 
got  when  they  looked  at  the  yawning  wind(nv-franies 
and  portals.  No  matter  ;  they  took  the  Highlandnian's 
proverb  for  their  law :  "  Set  a  stout  heart  to  a  steep 
hill-side  ;"  and  one  undertook  to  learn  the  management 
of  the  plane,  another  voted  herself  a  sashmaker,  a  third 
claimed  to  be  a  house-painter,  and  if  any  found  abso- 
lutely no  mechanical  vocation  within  her,  sho  went 
straightway  to  Our  Lady  and  asked  her  help  for  the 
others. 

Then  the  voyagers,  and  the  Lidiaus,  and  the  half- 
breeds  bro  light  melons,  and  potatoes,  and  some  eggs  ; 
aud,  that  nothing  might  be  wanting  to  make  the  good 
religious  feel  at  home,  they  added  thirty-five  or  forty 
little  girls  to  go  to  school,  and  about  twoscore  orphans 
whom  they  generously  handed  over  to  the  sisters  as  a 
KTri\ia  ef  an,  a  possession  forever.  So  they  got  them- 
selves and  their  pupils  and  their  orphans  housed  in 
some  sort,  and  from  that  time  till  now,  about  the  hour 
of  twilight,  they  have  never  failed  to  chant  the  Litany 
of  Our  Lady  of  Loretto.  Its  soiinds  of  benediction 
float  over  the  Wallamette,  and  further,  over  the  scarce- 
inhabited  wild  tracts  of  Oregon,  and  over  the  stray 
hunter-band  of  savages,  or  knot  of  trappers  ;  and  bear 
better  promises  to  Northern  America  than  that  land  is 
at  all  disposed  to  believe  in. 

The  prospects  of  this  mission  were  so  brilliant,  that 
they  lured  "  Sister  Renilde  and  her  compani  .ns"  to  try 
their  fortune  in  the  same  direction.  That  is  the  style 
and  title  of  this  new  expedition  :  "  Scear  Ileu'ilde  el  ses 


258 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


m 


,»y 


compcKjncs,  Snnurs  de  Noire  Dame."  What  Sister  Pk;. 
niklii's  uanie  was  in  the  world  we  liavo  no  idea  of ;  still 
less  can  wo  suggest  any  clue  to  those  anonymous  com- 
panions, except  in  two  instances,  which  we  shall  see  iu 
a  moment.  All  that  we  know  is  contained  in  a  few 
very  dusty  leaves,  hardly  aspiring  to  the  dignity  of  a 
pamphlet,  found  on  a  top  shelf  of  the  library  of  bis 
Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Cincinnati.  It  is  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  a  "  very  dear  Mother  Constantino,"  whom 
we  suspect  to  have  her  abode  either  at  Namur  or 
Amiens.  It  is  dated  "July  5,  1847,  on  board  the 
Morning  Star  ;"  and  contains  the  journal  of  the  voyage 
to  Oregon,  signed  as  above  stated,  "  Sister  Hotilda  and 
her  compiniions,  Sisters  of  Our  Lady." 

It  was  on  the  22d  of  February,  Washington's  birth- 
day, if  Americans  choose  to  accept  that  omen,  and  on 
the  "  eightli  day  of  our  Novena  in  honor  of  the  Holy 
Virgin,"  says  Sister  Renilda,  "  that  we  embarked  at 
Brest,  Monseigneur  the  Archbishop  gave  us  his  bene- 
diction, and  at  nine  o'clock  of  the  cool  morning,  a  gun 
gave  the  signal  for  departure.  And  while  the  Morning 
Star  wound  her  way  slowly  among  the  buoys,  small 
craft,  and  other  obstacles  that  somewhat  clogged  our 
course  out  of  the  harbor,  we  all  gathered  on  the  quar- 
ter-deck, chanted  the  Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and 
sang  the  Ave  Maris  Stella,  so  to  place  again  our  voyage 
under  Her  protection,  whom  none  ever  invoked  in 
vain." 

The  Morning  Star  is  not  a  very  unpleasant  ship  for 
religious  to  sail  in,  for  the  captain  hears  Mass  every 


IN  North  America. 


259 


(lay,  and  at  eight  bells  lie  calls  the  crew  to  prayers. 
"It  is  very  beautiful,  dear  Mother,"  says  Renilda,  "to 
hear  those  hardy  sailors,  their  captain  at  their  head, 
recite  Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  and  the  Creed,  and  end 
with  the  Angdufi,  which  done,  the  lieutenant  wishes 
them  *  good  voyage,  stout  courage,  and  fair  wind  ;'  and 
then,  at  night  again,  they  come  together  and  sing 
'Hail,  Ocean's  Sacred  Star,"  and  say  the  same  prayers 
as  at  morning."  The  gentle  Sister  might  easily  find 
that  to  be  very  beautiful ;  that  solemn  recommenda- 
tion of  themselves  to  God's  help  through  Mary's 
Mother-love  of  the  tough  seamen — those  men  who 
are  professionally  nearest  to  death  and  God.  And 
they  who  cannot  share  her  admiration  must  be  inland 
bred.  "For,"  says  the  Holy  Ghost,  "they  that  go 
down  to  sea  in  ships,"  who  are  employed  upon  the 
great  waters ;  these  men  see  the  wonders  of  the  Lord 
and  His  works  upon  the  deep.  For  He  saith  the 
word,  and  the  stormy  winds  arise ;  He  speaketh,  and 
the  waves  are  lifted  up.  They  mount  up  towards  the 
heavens ;  they  sink  down  into  the  deeps ;  their  souls 
faint  for  fear.  They  are  troubled ;  they  reel  like  a 
drunken  man ;  all  their  v/isdom  is  swallowed  up.  And 
then  they  cry  unto  the  Lord  in  their  affliction,  and  He 
bringeth  them  out  of  their  distresses ;  He  turneth  the 
storm  into  a  calm  and  all  the  waves  are  still." 

It  is  necessary  to  know  that  Sister  Renilda  is  near 
enough  God  to  retain  some  feeling  of  poetry.     She 


Ave  Maris  Stella. 


'  Psalm,  cvi.  25. 


i8!lil!l|l 


200 


Okvotion  to  Till',  W.  V.  Mauv 


M^ 


iliiiiKs   lliiil    llio  s*<ti   olVi'i'M  n    |)Miioi':iin)i  of  liriiiil  v,  iiml 

HptMllvM     (»r     il      |i>     111  !•    "(li'MJ-     IMiilhrr    CnllHlMlllilir"     ill 

(cniis  \\liiili  |iii>l»;il»lv  cniiliiiii  nil  Ikt  |M»,Msililn  i-lo. 
<]iit>ii('(\  lull  uliicli  rnll  iiiliiiilt'lj'  hIioi'T  nl'  lli<>  cNliniiMi- 
Ii'SH  ic.ililv  nl'  Ill-Mill  V  wliicli  lilt'  iiiiiiii  pre  iciiIm.  "AIi!" 
nIic  s;i\m,  "\\Ii;iI  ;:;i':ii'i(»ilM  vinii'lics  «|ni'H  tlin  mdi.  cx- 
liiliil !  Now  il  is  fiilin  mm  |»t'iico,  mow  Iroiililnl;  llicn 
HUrgili;;  riirioiislv  ;  it  is  i^rct'ii,  il.  is  lillic  ol'  lini viii,  il 
ll.'islics  willi  |»lios|(|iort>sfriil  };it«uniH.  Tlic  sun,  wlicii 
H«>ltiii;4;,  clollifs  nil  llio  (|t't'|)  in  rniniml,  ol"  liviii;';  lif^'lil ; 
nnd   llic  liori.'.oii  in  clouds  ol'  rvcrv  liiil,  ;';ol(l   nml  piir- 


t|(>    violrl,   Miitl    j-rccii,   iiiiil   ornii!!(' 


'n 


icsc 


11(1 


most     rnnlnslif    ronns :    volcnnors    in    (>ni|>lioii;    Viisl 
r    I'lio ;    moitiit!iiiiM   siio\v-cn|»|)('(l,   mid 


I'l'iinsoM    si'Ms   o 


fon'sts,  towns,  nnd  l);illl(>m(Mit»>d  cnsllcM.  Our  iccii'ii- 
tioii  is  to  look  on  this;  n\u\  before  f^'oiiif;  to  our  rcsi, 
nfler  Ihis  s|ie(-t.U'l(>,  we  clinut  tlit>  LilMiiy  td'  llie  iSIi'SHod 
Vir'rin  :\\\A  s,i\  lier  Kosnrv  to-rellier." 


T 


cniuioi 


\t)u,  luv  (lenr 


IM 


oilier,  w 


lint:  1 


iMpni- 


ness  one  l'<'els  in  sinj^iiij^  Mnry'.s  prnis(>,  our  denr,  {jjooil 
IMotlier's.  in  llie  midst  of  ilio  ocoan  ;  under  u  liciivcn 
s»>v.ii  w  ith  stnis  lu'W  to  us,  to  tlu^  soKmuii  sound  ol*  sens 
W'hioh  bri'nk  upon  tho  frail  sidos  of  our  whip  ;  nnd  llicn, 
full  i>f  ciMituliMU'o  juul  of  tlior(m«j;lu>st  trust,  av(>  sloop 
iu  the  hand  of  Clod,  traiupiilly  as  in  (mr  ]''iiropoan 
convont." 

Still  at  soa,  tlu>y  keep  tlio  Foast  of  Iho  Amiunciatiou 
on  board  tho  ]\[ovninj;  Star,  with  liigh  INfass,  vespers, 
and 


a  sermon. 


■  It  is  vor}'-  consoling   to   us,"  says 
Sister  Keuilda,  "  to  soo  Mary  so  loved  and  honored  by 


IN  NuiiTM  Amkiiica. 


201 


lM'i\iily,  iiii'l 
■tliuiliiif"   ill 

M(s;iilil«"  •''•' 
[\u\  i'nIiiuisI- 

onl.lr.i;  llx'K 
of  li.';iv.'ii,il 
h,'  sun,  wluMi 
f  livini'.  li!',l>»; 
.roM   Mini  \>iir- 
1h"S.<    I:i1^"   *'"' 
>c»n»li*'i>  ■'    ^''^'^'' 

Our  rtHMTii- 
,.f  |(.  our  rost, 
of  llu-  1-1*'^*^^"'^ 

■v,  Nvluii  l»!>pri- 
ouv  a.-i>v,  i;o(h1 

u  sduimI  of  >^^"'>« 

ship ;  nw^  *^'''"' 
trust,  ^vo  siocv 
onv  J'iiu-Dpean 

10  Annunoiivtiou 
]N[iiss,  vc^spers, 

1^   to   ^^^'"  ^''^y^ 
Tud  Ixouorodby 


till  w 


IIH'i 


III)  huiioiiihI  iih  ;  iiIiiiohI.  all  l,li<«  Hiiiloci  \\< m  |Ih> 
liil  ul'  llio  ||iiiiiM.cul;il.n  <!(MHT|iMi)ii,  iiinl  iriiiiiy  ndd 
llic  clmiilri.  I'liiMlcr,  Init,  limy  K('t|>  nl  Mru  ;  ;ili(l  (lio 
iilliir  on  tlri'lv  in  fovri't'il  wilJi  llm  tiiiMMioriury  liniiiHi' of 
Oct'Mhii'ii,  wlinn  Mm  OMjiIcm  of  M.-iry  iwr  iii  work  ii 
wliil*!  l)Miiiit>i'  lii'iu'iii^{  )i  criiiiMoii  itohm  ;  iiihI  IIhii,  ii|)oii 
II  l>iick;^'rniiii<l  <»!'  |»;il(MtIiit)  (Iriipcry,  IIhic  Ii;iii;;m,  fru' 
iilliir  |iir('(',  II  piuiiljiij^  of  St.  iNluij,  lilcHHcd  \>y  tlm 
lf(.ly  I'lithrr." 

Aim!  HO  afliii'  inaiiy  <'X|Miri(iii<!«iH  iiTlff  IIh;  Ifii^'JIi  of 
tliii  Atliililii^  (!ii.po  I  lorn,  tlin  Niiif^'lli  of  llm  i'lu-Kift, 
llM>y  rt'iu'li  tlio  nionlli  of  llm  ( 'oluniltia.  'rinn  tlir.  hi- 
(liiniH  conin  oH'  in  tlicir  ciuiofH,  iiiitl  Kcriiiultin  iihoiirfl, 
('liinookH,  11,11(1  Orcf^'oiiH,  luid  Wall.iw.ill.is,  willi  ii 
li.'Ui^lily  |)ii<M)tiih  hero  and  tlicro;  and  iln^y  all  ni;i.ko 
Uio  .si^'ii  (tf  tim  (M'OHH,  many  woarinj^  llm  clinplct,  and 
uiy  otIicrH  tlio  nicdid  of  Our  Lady.     Tlic   iiiissioii- 


111 


iirids  uo  aslioro  and   oniit'  ini< 


I  )) 


wood 


I.I 


OOIIIM,    lllpltlH 


lirobiiMy,  and  llio  ilir<!0  violol.s  and  other  fol•<^st  llovv- 
ors,  and  tho  Sislors  "iiiako  houcjinstH  of  thcni  to  adorn 


lio  Vir'Mii  H 


Alt 


ir, 


With  all  tho  huitfth  of  th(j  v( 


>y- 


a^ni,  howisvcr,  and  with  all  tlioHo  Kdiitiiiicnts  and  al)H(>- 
liilt!  stonily  rcaliticH,  with  all  those;  [)ray(;r.s,  and 
hyiniiH,  and  intoned  litanies,  do  not  let  it  he  siipj)OHod 
tliat  tli(i  gentle  Sisters  {^iHiW  puritanic,  or  Iheir  faees 
lonj^  and  sour.  No,  no;  if  anyhody  may  wear  a  gay 
fiicc,  it  is  a  cliild  of  IVFary,  devoting  all  to  her  and  her 
KtcriiMl  Son,     "  We  luiver  passcKl  our  reuroations  more 


'  liifUiv  (in  S(T!ur  IKnildc,  p.  17. 


262 


Devotion  to  the  I).  V.  Maiiy 


m 


gayly,"  Sistc^r  IlisniUla  Htiyn.  "Even  tliu  bud  wt'iitlior 
holpH  to  iniiko  UH  fun.  \V(!  cull  ono  ond  of  our  jmr- 
ticiilur  ciihin  Wiilliiniotto,  such  being  tho  niitno  ol  our 
miHsion  not  yt^t  roacluul,  luul  tho  other  ond  wo  nuino 
Tho  Falls."  Tho  latter  jdaco  Ixiing  probably  on  tho 
Icc-side,  with  a  very  decidtul  slope.  "  All  of  us,"  hiijh 
tlio  Sister,  "  visit  Tho  Falls  scsveral  times  a  day. 
Sister  Francisca  goes  ofteuor  than  any  of  the  rest 
of  us.  And  only  tho  other  day  Sister  Mary  Al[)liou- 
BUH,  alter  ra})idly  sliding  thither,  her  soup-i)latu  in 
lior  hand,  was  turned  about  by  tho  roll  of  the  vcjhsoI, 
and  sliding  back  as  rapidly,  emptied  the  contents 
of  that  aoup-plato  ou  tho  head  of  Sister  Mary 
Bernard.' 

And  this  is  tho  additional  information  proiiiisod 
by  tho  present  writer  some  page  or  so  above.  TliLs 
is  what  ho  knows  about  tho  other  two  sisters ;  that 
Mary  Ali)honsus,  compelled  thereto  by  an  aillmmt 
wave,  emptied  hor  soup  upon  tho  person  of  Mary 
Bernard. 

Among  tho  Indians  who  come  or  are  brought  on 
board  is  a  young  female  barbarian,  une  pclite  muvu- 
gesso,  a  candidate  for  baptism.  And  tho  Sisters,  before 
they  quit  the  ship,  assist  at  that  sacrament.  The  cap- 
tain is  godfather,  and  endows  his  j'dlcule  with  half  tlio 
trinkets  and  gay  old  clothing  in  tho  ship  ;  and,  of 
course,  the  little  red-girl  is  called  Mary.  Then  tlieio 
is  a  venerable  Chinook  who  sings  for  them  in  his  own 
tongue,  "  in  a  voice  by  no  means  disagreeable,"  tlio 
hymn  just  given  above ;    and  pointing  with  simple 


IN  North  Ameuica. 


203 


cxiiltiitioji  to  tlif>  iikmIuI  of  llm  Tiiiin!i»'ul!il(i  Coiiccplion 
wliicli  Imii^'H  Jipon  liin  Hwnrtl.y  clicst.  Tlicii,  wlim  tlits 
Moniiii}^  Shu*  is  1o(1^,'(m1  by  Iicr  pilot  ii|)(jii  ii  .siuid-biir, 
at  tlu!  nioutli  of  tlio  Wulliiim't.t(>,  "SJHtcr  riciiildii  iiiitl 
li(T  conip.'Uiions"  ({uit  hnr  dock  for  ctiiiocs,  und  pro- 
ceeding in  tliom  to  thoir  luif^Hion-liouso,  arc  lost  to 
ni}:;l!t  of  ours. 

It  is  proper  to  say  lioro,  iliiit  oIIku'  oi'dcis  tliiui  that 
of  Sister    Iiciiilda   call   tliciiisclvcs   of    Notre    Damo. 
Homo,  ill  North  Aiii(;ri(!a  traco  tluur  orij^jin  to  Lorraine, 
so  fur  hack  as  ITyOf),  IJlessed  Paul  Fonnier  hcin;^'  ih(ar 
foniider,  and  are  to  ho  miit  with  at  IMilwaukfe.'     Then 
Miirf^'uei'it(^  Bourg(!oys  and  h(!r  sist(;rs  ar(!  a  kind  of 
colony  from  these;.     This  is  tho  extent  of  our  informa- 
tion rei^arding  the  Sonirs  do  Notre  Dame  ;  and  it  is 
|)ossil)lo  that  Komo  of  our  statistics  may  not  lie  ahvays 
iittrihnted  to  the  proper  socicity  of  thes(!  three.    Shonld 
any  one  discover  tliis,  we  can  only  declare  that  sncdi 
(MTor  is  not  wilful.     They  are  all,  at  least,  Sisters  of 
Onr  Lady,  all  children  of  one  Mother,  and  we  do  not 
intend,  hy  this  present  writing,  to  assign  them  any 
iiuni('diat(;  credit  at  alk     We  wish  to  follow  their  ex- 
iunplo,  and  to  assign  all  credit,  all  the  honor,  all  the 
glory,  to  Jesus,  their  eternal  Spouse,  who  loved  them, 
and  who  bought  them  Avith  His  blood — to  Him,  and 
His  Inmiaculate  sweet  Mother.     What  wo  do  know  is 


'  "  Les  SiTvantos  do  Dicu  on  Canada,  1 853.  Essai  sur  I'histoiro  des 
commuiiiuitt's  religiouses  do  fommes  de  la  Proviuco:"  par  C.  do 
Laroclio-llcron. 


im 


2C4 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


this,  tli.it  cortahi  devout  women,  known  as  Sisters  of 
Notre  Dame,  are  daily  teaching  more  than  thirty  tlmv- 
sand  American  children  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Saint 
Mary  the  Virgin. 


if 
LI 


wwTiimniriULUa 


IN  North  America. 


265 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Oi!R  Lady  of  'NrERCT  and  of  Citauity — Oun   Lapy's  Loviua  Friknds  at 
(the  Cjioss — Ouu  Lady  of  Chiust's  pukcious  Blood. 


The  History  of  Derotiou  to  Blessed  Mary  in  the 
Old  World,  and  even  of  that  in  elder  Canada,  seems 
rather  an  exhibition  of  effects,  the  sources  of  which 
are  easily  enough  divined ;  but,  in  our  careless,  anti- 
aiitiquarian,  and  recordless  state,  Ave  must  be  con- 
tented with  getting  at  such  causes  as  are  visible  to  us, 
and  from  those  deduce  the  inevitable  effects.  If  cer- 
tain religious  have  thirty  thousand  pupils,  and  are 
guided  in  their  lives  and  their  instruction  by  certain 
visible  principles,  it  will  require  no  wizard  to  guess  at 
the  result  of  the  education  which  they  give. 

Kenelm  Digby  writes  a  book  called  "  Compitum,  the 
Meeting  of  the  Ways,"  to  show  that  all  roads  duly  fol- 
lowed '.ead  to  the  Church.  It  is  true ;  and  so  is  tho 
reverse  true.  All  ways  lead  out  of  the  Church  again 
over  tiio  suffering  world.  When  the  convent  doors 
open  in  the  morning,  i'.  is  that  one  Sister  may  go  to 
the  school-room,  another  to  the  hospital-ward,  another 
tbrougli  the  streets  to  the  houses  of  the  charitable, 
another  to  the  garrets  and  dismal  cellars,  to  the 
shrines  of  utterest  poverty,  to  inodorous  alleys,  where 

12 


266 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


i 


r  f . 

"I 


■•<%i 


M 

M 


povorty  and  filth  and  sin  have  supremacy.  Here,  a 
bhiek-robe ;  there,  a  broAvn  one,  Avith  a  crimson  cross 
nj)()n  the  bosom,  tlireads  the  city  paths.  On  one 
Hquare  yon  liear  young  voices  carolUng  hymns  to 
Mary  from  the  windows  of  an  academy ;  on  the  next, 
you  see  the  Avliite,  broad-leafed,  quaint  bonnet  of  the 
daughter  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul.  And  all  those  are 
travelling  in  a  circle ;  tliey  come  from  the  hearts  of 
Jesus  and  of  Mary ;  they  are  to  go  back  thither  when 
their  eartlily  Avork  is  done. 

One  family  of  these  precious  souls  is  known  by  tlio 
name  of  Sisters  of  Mercy.  Do  you  remember  Long- 
fellow's Evangeline  in  the  yellow-fever  hospital  for  the 
poor  in  Philadelphia  ?     Let  us  repeat  it : 

Only,  alas  I  the  poor  who  had  noithcr  friends  nor  atti^ndants, 
Crt'pt  away  to  die  in  tlio  almsliousL',  liomo  of  tiio  honioless. 
Then  in  the  suburbs  it  stood,  in  the  midst  of  meadows  and  wood- 
lands. 

Now  the  city  surrounds  it,  but  still  with  its  j^ntpway  and  wicket. 
Meek,  in  the  midst  of  splendor,  its  humble  walla  seem  to  echo 
Softly  tlie  words  of  Our  Lord,  "  The  poor  ye  have  always  with  you." 
Thither  by  night  and  by  day  came  the  Sister  of  Mercy.    The  dying 
Looked  up  into  her  face  and  thought,  indeed,  to  behold  there 
Gleams  of  celestial  light  encircle  her  forehead  with  splendor. 
Such  as  the  artist  paints  o'er  the  brows  of  saints  and  apostles, 
Or  such  as  hangs  by  night  o'er  a  city  seen  from  a  distance. 
Unto  t/ieir  eyes  it  s(>emod  the  lamps  of  the  City  ('elestial, 
Into  whoso  sinning  gates,  ero  long,  their  spirits  should  enter. 

And  with  light  in  her  looks  she  entered  the  chamber  of  sickness 
Noiselessly  moving  among  the  assiduous  faithful  attendants, 
Moistening  the  feverish  lip  and  thc^  aching  brow;  and  in  silence 
Closing  the  sightless  eyes  of  the  dead  and  concealing  their  faces. 
Where  on  their  pallets  they  lay,  like  drifts  of  snow  by  the  waysido. 
Many  a,  languid  head  upraised  as  the  Sister  entered, 


V:- 


tms-im!^ 


IN  North  America. 


2r.7 


Turned  on  its  pillow  of  pain  to  gaze  whilo  sho  ])nssod  ;  for  her  presence 
Fell  on  their  hearts  like  a  ray  of  the  sun  on  the  walls  of  a  prison, 
And  uH  she  looked  around,  she  saw  how  Death  tlio  Cons(der. 
Luyiu^f  his  hand  upon  many  a  heart,  had  heah;d  it  forever.' 


Earlier  than  the  year  1830,  we  find  Sisters  of  Mercy 
in  Chiirieston  South  Carolina,  helpers  to  Bishop  Eng- 
l.aiid  in  his  apostolic  work  clown  there,  and  now  they 
are  elsewhere ;  in  Cincinnati,  among  places  known 
to  UR.  These  are  of  the  good  gifts  bestowed  by  Ire- 
land on  America,  and  are,  so  to  speak.  Children  of  the 
Order  of  the  Presentation  of  the  Ever  Virgin  Mary,  in 
tliat  ancient  and  Catholic  island.  Lot  ns  jiidge  of 
what  tlu^y  are  likely  to  do  in  advancing  the  devotion, 
by  what  we  can  know  of  their  daily  lives  and  ride. 
Given  fid<!lity  to  a  rule,  its  natural  effects  will  not  re- 
quire to  be  proved.  Now,  these  Sisters  of  Oiir  Lady 
of  Mercy  say  daily  the  Office  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
which  is  con)posed  of  thirty-seven  of  the  Psalms  of 
David  ;  the  hymns  of  Simeon,  of  Blessed  Mary,  of  the 
tln-ce  youths  in  the  Assyrian  furnace,  of  Zacharias, 
prophet  of  God,  with  lessons  and  other  passages 
from  Holy  Scrii)ture,  and  some  pious  ejaculations, 
prayers,  and  versified  hymns  for  the  seven  divisions 
of  the  day." 

'  Longfellow's  Poetical  Works.  Boston :  Ticknor  &  Fields.  18nio 
ed,,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  72,  73. 

'  It  is  almost  Imniiliating  to  even  an  ex-man-of-!(>tters  to  ho  obliged 
to  sny  tl:'it  the  OfFico  is  not  the  Mass — to  repeat  again  that  the  Mass  is 
what  Protestants  would  call  the  Service  of  the  Holy  Communion,  and 
the  Ojjke  is  the  Breviary — to  wit,  the  Psalms  of  David,  with  Scripturj 
lessons  and  commentaries ;  short  biographies  or  notices  of  tlu-  saint, 


liliii 


2G8 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


m 


Then  another  rule  binds  the  good  sisters  "  to  inspirit, 
as  much  as  in  them  lies,  the  chihlreu  whom  they  edu- 
cate with  a  sincere  devotion  to  the  passion  of  Jesus 
Christ ;  to  His  real  presence  in  the  Holy  Eucharist;  to 
the  Immaculate  Mother  of  God,  and  to  their  Guardian 
Angels."  They  must  say  daily  in  their  schools  five 
decades  of  our  Lady's  Rosary  or  her  Litany  of  Loretto. 
Their  days  of  recreation  are  all  Mary's  days — the  long 
vacation  from  her  Feast  of  Mount  Carmel,  June  10,  to 
Mouda}'  after  her  Assumption,  August  15 :  the  other 
days  are  Saturday's,  consecrated  by  ^he  Church  to  her, 
and  the  Feast  of  her  Presentation.  Then  their  rule 
bids  them  "bear  perpetually  in  mind  that  their  Con- 
gregation is  under  her  especial  protection,  and  that 
she  is,  under  God,  its  chief  Patroness  and  Protectress." 
Therefore  the  Sisters  "  must  have  the  warmest  devo- 
tion and  affection  to  her,  and  must  regard  her  in  an 

or  other  siiciod  subject  of  tlio  clay ;  collects  or  short  ])niy(>rs,  from 
which  those  of  the  Anglican  and  American  Episcopal  churches  are 
translated,  and  a  few  hymns  and  ])ious  verses,  '.isually  from  Holy 
Writ.  But  when  such  a  man  as  Thomas  Carlyle,  the  pre-eminent 
"sham"  hater,  who  writes,  in  correction  of  all  other  historians,  his 
history  of  Frederick  the  Great,  and  half  of  whoso  midtitudinous  notes 
are  devoted  to  abuse  of  other  men's  ignonuuc ;  when  ho  gives  us 
Mass  in  tlie  afternoon,  and,  for  a  whole  page,  jumbles  uj)  this  ISook  of 
Psalms  with  the  Communion  Ollice,  what  can  an  ex-man-of-letters  do 
but  notice  it?  Vide  History  of  Frederick  II,  called  Frederick  tlip 
Great.  By  Thomas  Carlyle;  vol.  iii.,  p.  200.  New  York:  Harper  & 
Brothers. 

Munmieiy  as  much  as  you  please ;  nonsense  and  idolatry  as  much 
as  you  please;  but  a  writer,  a  public  teacher  of  men,  is  bound  in 
simpli'  honor  to  iuiow  something  about  the  daily  mummery  even  of 
two  hundred  millions  of  civilized  men. 


^ 


IN  North  America. 


269 


especial  manner  as  their  Mother,  and  the  great  model 
which  they  are  to  imitate."  They  are  to  have,  "  indi- 
vidually, unlimited  confidence  in  her  ;  to  have  recourse 
to  her  in  all  their  difficulties  and  spiritual  necessities, 
and  by  the  imitation  of  her  virtues  are  to  study  to 
please  her  and  to  merit  her  maternal  protection." 

They  shall,  moreover,  "  solemnize  her  festivals  with 
all  spiritual  joy  and  devotion,  and  shall  i)t8lil  in  the 
minds  of  the  children,  and  of  all  such  as  tlicy  can  injlacncc, 
the  greatest  respect,  veneration,  and  love  for  her." 
Tliey  shall  "  say  the  beads  every  day  in  her  honor  ;" 
and  "  on  the  Feast  of  her  Presentation,  in  every  year, 
the  whole  communit}',  with  lighted  wax  lights  in  their 
hands,  shall,  on  their  knees,  before  the  altar  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  make  the  following  act  of  oblation  and 
of  consecration  to  the  Blessed  Mother  of  God :"  ' 


"  The  Act  of  Renewed  Consecration. 

"  Most  holy  and  glorious  Virgin,  Mother  of  God,  we 
Sisters  of  the  Congi'egation  of  Charitable  Instruction, 
convinced  how  much  we  stand  in  need  of  the  grace  of 
God  to  fulfil  the  arduous  duties  and  obligations  of  our 
pious  institute,  and  of  the  greatness  of  thy  power 
with  Jesus  Christ  thy  beloved  Son,  and  of  thy  good- 
ness towards  poor  Christians,  most  humbly  address 
ourselves  to  thee  this  day,  as  the  Mother  of  Mercy, 


'  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Mias  Nagle. 

Rule  of  the  Sisters  of  our  Lady  of  Mercy,  of  the  Presentation, 
Dublin. 


270 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


i 


and  in  the  fullest  confidence  of  obtaining,  through  thy 
holy  intercession,  the  Divine  assistance. 

"We,  there; fore,  most  clement  Virgin,  prostrate  be- 
fore thee  with  all  humility,  earnestly  beseech  thee  to 
be  most  graciously  pleased  to  accept  of  the  oblation 
we  all  irrevocably  make  on  this  holy  day  of  ourselves 
to  thy  love  and  service,  proposing  with  the  Divine  as- 
sistance to  bear  always  towards  thee  the  most  cordial 
respect  and  veneration,  and  to  engage,  as  far  as  in  our 
power,  all  others  to  love,  honor,  and  respect  tlioe. 
Deign,  O  most  pure  and  immaculate  Virgin,  Mother  of 
God,  to  receive  us  all,  and  every  one  of  us  i.  partic- 
ular, under  thy  holy  protection.  We  look  up  to  thco 
as  our  Mother,  our  Lady,  and  oiir  Mistress,  as  our  Pa- 
troness and  Protectress,  Advocate  and  Directress, 
humbly  entreating  thee  to  obtain  the  pardon  of  all  our 
sins  and  transgressions  against  the  Divine  Majesty, 
and  of  all  our  negligences  in  thy  holy  service. 

"  We  beseech  thee  to  obtain  from  the  infinite  good- 
ness of  thy  beloved  Son,  that  this  little  Congregation 
of  Charitable  Instruction  may  ab^ays  be  favored  with 
thy  singular  assistance,  especially  in  the  arduous  func- 
tions of  the  institute  and  in  the  practice  of  every  reli- 
gious virtue.  In  fine,  we  most  earnestly  request  thou 
Avilt  be  graciously  pleased  to  obtain  that  perfect  union 
of  hearts  and  minds  may  always  reign  amongst  us; 
that  we  may  ever  be  faithful  to  the  observance  of  our 
rule,  and  persevere  to  the  end  of  our  lives  in  the  spirit 
and  grace  of  our  vocation,  that  having  with  fidelity 
served  thy  beloved  Son,  by  imitating  thy  virtues  on 


LI 


IN  North  Aaierica. 


271 


earth,  we  may,  with  theo  and  all  the  elect,  praise  and 
glorify  Vim  in  heaven  for  all  eternity.     Amen."  ' 

Anu  then  those  Sisters  of  Our  Lady  of  Charity — 
all  one  with  some  external  diiference,  some  with 
schools,  some  without ;  some  with  quaint,  picturesque 
Avliito  butterfly-winged  bonnets  and  antique-looped 
gowns ;  some  all  in  black  and  some  in  brown,  but  all 
alike  ;  Mere  Juchereau  in  1G30,  Mother  Seton  two  cen- 
turies later ;  Gray  Sisters  (Sanirs  Griscfi)  or  Hospita- 
liorcs,  or  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  or  of  the  Hotel  Dicu, 
or  sacred  inn,  whereof  our  Lord  is  the  host,  and  where 
the  penniless  are  guests  and  "  have  wine  and  milk 
without  money  and  without  price  ;" "  or  Sisters  of 
Ciiarity  in  New  York,  in  Boston,  in  New  Orleans,  iu 
Cincinnati,  in  Minnesota,  in  Montreal,  they  are  all  one 
—all  are  children  of  Saint  Vincent  de  Paul ;  all  rejoice 
to  be  known  by  that  proud  title  which  he  bestowed 
upon  them,  "  Daughters  of  Charity  and  Servants  of 
the  Poor." 

What  need  have  we  to  speak  of  them?  Let  the 
school,  the  hospital,  the  prison,  the  filthy  lodging- 
house,  the  orphan  asj'lum,  the  blood-stained  camp  talk 
about  them.  Why,  the  Protestant  ajid  the  Pagan ; 
the  roughest  among  men,  the  "  lost,  lost,  lost"  among 
women,  know  the  Sister  of  Charity,  and  find  some- 
where amid  the  ruins  of  their  souls  an  untainted  bless- 
ing for  her  as  she  passes. 


'  Rules  and  Constitutions,  etc,    Dublin,  1809. 
'  "  Qui  non  habetis  argentum,  properate  :   venite,  emite  absque 
argeuto  ut  absque  ulla  commutatioue,  viuum  et  lac." — Isaias,  lv.^1. 


272 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maiiy 


i 


In  Quebec,  iu  1G37,  more  than  two  hixiidred  yofvvs 
ago,  they  wtintod  a  school  aud  a  hospital,  and  tlio 
Sisters  of  Charity  furnished  both.  Montreal,  Mary's 
city,  felt  the  need,  and  we  have  seen  how  Mademui- 
selle  Manse  provided.  In  the  States,  Mother  Soton 
founds  her  adaptation  of  the  great  order,  and  now  the 
Sister  of  Charity  is  everywhere.  Here,  there  is  the 
Sister  of  Providence;  there,  the  "little  Sister  of  the 
Poor ;"  everywhere  the  faithful  child  and  humble  im- 
itator of  Holy  Mary.  Mother  Seton's  first  convent  is 
a  tenement  of  four  rooms ;  one  floor  and  one  garret 
must  lodge  sixteen  persons.  But  she  has  the  "  cliapol 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin" '  wherein  to  receive  the  Bread 
of  Life ;  it  is  Saint  Mary's  Mountain  which  is  their 
hoped-for  laboring-place,  that  Saint  Mary's  town,  now 
Baltimore ;  and  they  can  give  their  own  fond  phase  of 
signification  to  Maryland. 

Here  were  Dubois,  afterwards  Bishop  of  New 
York,  aud  saintly  Brute,  their  wise  guides,  the  sccoiiJ, 
afterwards  Bishop  of  Vuiceunes.  He  it  was  who  lintl 
"no  time  at  home  to  get  his  hair  cut,""  and  so  catch- 
ing the  barber  one  day  in  the  woods,  he  sat  down 
upon  a  stone  and  was  newly  tonsured  there.  It  wus 
he,  too,  whom  students  of  St.  Mary's,  known  to  the 
present  writer,  used  to  see  laboring  with  his  own 
hands  to  make  more  easy  a  steep  up-mountain  path 


1 


'  Life  of  Mra.  E.  Soton,  Founder  and  First  Superior  of  tho  Dauglilcra 
of  Charity  iu  the  United  States.    By  llov.  Dr.  White,  p.  *;35. 
»  The  same,  p.  380. 


IN  North  America. 


273 


lulred  yoavs 
tal,  and  the 
veal,  Mary's 
)W  Madeiuoi- 
lotlicr  Setoii 
and  now  the 
there  is  tlie 
Sister  of  tlie 
d  liumbk;  im- 
rst  convent  is 
lid  one  gariot 
,s  tlie  "  chapel 
iive  the  Bread 
which  is  their 
ry's  town,  now 
fond  phase  of 

Ishop    of    Kew 
lcs,  the  sccoikI, 
It  was  who  had 
"  and  so  calch- 
l  he  sat  down 
there.    It  was 
known  to  the 
with  his  own 
mountain  patli 


lor  of  tlic  Dauglil^'s 
lite,  p.  '^^5. 


which  led  to  his  grotto  oratory  and  the  statnto  of  the 
Mother  of  God.  Ah !  the}'  were  very  poor  in  money 
and  influence  in  those  early  da^'s,  but  rich  in  gTac(\s, 
iu  humility,  in  love  of  labor,  and  in  sv.  oet  conti'nted- 
ness.  Tliey  have  lives  of  roughness  and  great  labor, 
but  God  gives  them  encouragement.  Th(>y  have  sick- 
ness and  pain  like  others,  but  Ho  sends  them  pleasant 
tlioughts.  They  die,  some  years  too  early,  we  may 
fancy,  but  so  "  He  givetli  His  beloved  sleep." ' 

What  sick  Sister  was  it  on  whose  heart  while  she 
slept,  Mother  Seton  placed  a  rose  just  given  her?  We 
do  not  know.  !i;liall  never  know  her  name  ;  nor  is  it  in 
any  point  essential  to  us  or  her  that  we  should.  But 
as  she  wrote  her  simple  thanks  for  it,  we  may  look 
here  at  the  form  of  words  it  took.'' 

The  morning  was  beautiful,  mild,  and  serene, 

All  nature  hiul  wakod  from  repose ; 
Maternal  affection  came  siltnitly  in. 

And  placed  on  my  bosom  a  rose. 

Poor  nature  was  weak,  and  had  almost  prevailed 

The  long-wearied  eyelids  to  close  ; 
But  tlie  soul  waked  in  triuTupli  and  joyously  hailed 

The  sweet  Queen  of  Flowers,  the  Rose. 

Whitsuntide  was  the  time,  'twas  tlie  season  of  love, 

And  I  tliought  that  the  Ulcst  Spirit  chose 
To  leave  for  a  wlule  the  sweet  form  of  the  Dove, 
And  come  in  the  blush  of  the  Hose. 

Come,  Heavenly  Spirit,  descend  on  each  brcafit. 
And  there  let  thy  blessings  repose. 


*  Psalm  cxxvi.  3  :  "  Dederit  dilectis  suis  somnum.' 
'  White's  Life,  p.  494. 


12* 


271 


Dkvotion  to  tiif,  B.  V.  Mauy 


Ah  tlinii  (mc(>  didst  on  Afiiry,  tlm  trnipli!  of  roHt, 
Kor  Mary'H  imr  MyHticiil  IIosk. 

Oil  miiy  cvi'iy  roHO  tliiit  Hprinp*  forth  t^vcrmoro. 

l']iikiiullo  tli<>  lu^iirtH  of  III!  tlii>H(^ 
Who  wciir  it  or  ni'(<  it,  to  IdcHs  and  luloro 

Tlio  lltiiid  lliiit  created  tlii!  rono. 

Ijct  UH  ^ucHH  how  ]\[()tlior  S(!tou  would  luovo  youiifj; 
hoiirts  to  tlu>  lovo  of  tho  UIchhchI  Jiiiioii^  avoiikmi,  by 
wluit  wo  S(>o  of  hvv  own  child,  \wv  licbfccii.  Just  a 
^'liinpHc  into  that  woll-triod  lil'o  of  hers  ;  a  inonuMit's 
raisinj^'  of  tho  cuirtain  to  exposo  tho  riiothor's  pain,  und 
ono  fflanco  into  tho  hoart  of  tho  child.  Tin*  record  of 
tho  littio  girl's  lon<T;-suiroring  is  most  ])ilial)lo ;  tho 
voct)rd  of  her  j)aticnc(5  is  most  beautiful,  as  sIk!  lies 
there  white!  and  still,  sullering  lieroically,  and  not 
"wishing  her  snllerings  shortened;"  her  largo  eyes 
never  quitting  the  crucilix  except  to  ,  ,irn  upon  tho 
poor  niotlu^'  Ix^side  her,  tlu!  mother  struggling  for 
resignation  whih^  the  pangs  of  her  oil's] ving  werc^  tear- 
ing at  her  own  heartstrings;  and  trying  to  unite  her 
pain  with  iho  pain  of  Her  who  stood  at  tlu!  foot  of  the 
cross,  the  Mother  of  Jesus."  '  By  and  by  the  innocent 
head  siidcs  down  upon  tho  mother's  bosom  ;  there  is  a 
struggle  and  a  tinal  sigh  ;  and  then,  Ho  that  carricth 
the  young  lambs  in  his  bosom,"  "  suil'eveth  that  Httlo 
cue  to  come  to  Him." 

That  ended,  Mother  Seton  lays  the  untijuantod  body 


'  " Stubat  autem  jiixta  Crucera  Jesu,  Mater  ejua." — Saint  John's 
Gospel,  xix.  35. 
'  Isuias,  xl.  11  ;  Saint  Mark's  Gospel,  x.  14. 


IN  NouTii  Amkiuca. 


270 


from  li(!r  iirins  with  a  low  inuninircd,  "Oli,  my  iliir- 
liii[,f!"  Ilicn  Kiiys  to  tlio  attcdidniii  Sister,  "  I\ry  cliiiiiiH 
lU'O  broken,"  iiiid  to  lier  (Jod  slio  says,  lil'tiiij^  \\v.v  (^yos 
tind  iiniis,  "  ^\y  Lord,  my  darliiifij  in  witli  'J'lice  !  Slio 
will  iH'Vi'ruioro  risk  to  ofl'ond  Tlico  :  and  to  Tlioo  I 
f^'ivc!  licr  I'l)  with  all  my  soul."  Now,  this  was  tlui 
child's  prayer  or  act  of  consecration.  She  and  two  of 
lior  companions  had  given  thomsolvos  early  to  lilessed 
Miiry  in  this  form  of  their  own  composition  : 

"Oh,  our  lilessi^l  Mother !  we  conscuirato  our  poor 
little  hearts  to  yon.  lleceivo  our  ofTei'ing.  From  this 
(lay  we  will  begin,  and  with  your  dear  assistance  will 
continue  to  try  our  wry  best  to  lov(!  and  serve;  yon 
faithfully.  Oh,  our  dear,  dearest  Mother,  intercede  for 
your  poor  little  children  before  tin;  throne;  of  your 
Divine  Son,  for  Ho  will  not  deny  j-ou.  His  dear  Moth- 
er, any  thing;  and  thenifore  wo  beg  you  to  obtain  for 
us  tlio  virtue  of  i)urity  of  heart,  which  is  so  very  pl(\'is- 
inr;  to  you  and  your  Divine  Son,  and  that  of  modesty 
and  love.  But  above  all,  oh,  our  Blessed  Mf)ther,  ob- 
tain for  us  a  happy  death,  that  wo  may  reign  forever 
in  the  blessed  mansions  of  penc(»  and  rest  which  is  our 
true  country  and  homo.     Amen." ' 

It  is  only  the  act  of  three  little  American  school- 
girls, some  fifty  years  ago ;  but  rx  ore  irifavlium.  d  lar- 
tenllum  per/ecisfi  lamhrn — "  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes 
and  sucklings  Thou  hast  perfected  praise  ;" "  and  Mary 


■•—Saint  John's 


'  "  White's  Life  of  Mrs.  Seton,"  Appendix,  p.  498. 
'  Psiilm,  vjii.  3. 


•27r. 


Okvo'iton  to  n.  V.  Maiiv 


\^< 


Hocms  to  linvd  lu'iird  ilicm,  for  tli»'}'  all  dicitl  in  cliild- 

llOOll. 

One  of  Micsii  very  firsl  of  INfollicr  Hcioirs  coinimi- 
iiilv  siiivivcs  (lS('»;i),  ili(>  vni('i'(il)lo  Mo'.licr  I\Tiir^,')ir(>k 
(Icorn;).,  lil'lv-oiM'  yotivH  ii  "  Diui^'lilrr  of  Cliurily  iiml 
HtU'vmit  of  tilt'  poor."  If  you  would  Hcn  lirf  mimI  nnk 
Iht  pniyciM,  you  will  Cmd  licr  in  ilic  niidsl  (»f  ||i(> 
orplnins,  iii  tli(>  nsyluni  in  ('uniniinHvill)>,  <'incirni)ili. 
Of  oilier  Sislcrs  of  Chnrily,  imd  of  Hichc,  a  fuel,  or  (wo 
will  iliiislratt^  our  iiilcnipt  ut  u  liisioi'y  of  dcvolioii. 
Oiw  sini^Io  eoniniuniiy,  ili.'ii  of  Miiiniillshur^',  Ims 
twenty-two  jisyliiniH,  foi-  orplinns,  for  Hie  inHaiic,  I'nr 
in('iir!il)l«'S  ;  «>l<>V('n  liospilalH,  imd  twenty -five  hcIkioIs. 
Til  Uie  eily  of  New  York  alone,  Sislers  of  v;iiiniis 
orders  t«'aeli  at  least  six  thousand  pupils. 


Tn    Canada,   ei'dil     Innidicd    reliL'ious    wotnon,   t 


('II 


y<>ars  ago,  wer<>  t(>aeliiiijLj  eleven  tliousanti  cliildrcii, 
giiardiii};  a  thousand  or])hans,  nursing  flv(<  thousiuid 
sick,'  and  teaehing,  by  ])reeept  or  (>\ani|ile,  devolion  tn 
tlui  Blessed  Virgin  to  ev<M'y  oiio  of  thes(^  If  we  liml 
any  records  h(M'(\  wo  might  l)o  ahle  to  a)>])oitioii  to 
each  order  in  the  TTnited  States  its  due  iiunihcr  (if 
pu])ils  :  but,  as  yet,  system  is  wanting. 

Just  take  your  atlas  for  aAvliile,  and  see  tli()S(^  Gray 
Sisters,  the  first  vo  over  saw  in  North  Amori'-a ;''  scf 
them  to-day,  more  than  two  conturios  latcir,  toiliii;,'  in 
the  half-tro]ucaI  heats  of  the  South,  or  braving,  for  tlio 
love  of  God  and  IMary,  the  boreal  wind  car(Hn'ing  over 


'  Servnntos  de  Dicu  on  Canada, 


'   Vide  tins  work,  p.  40. 


-*ri_i*»fia>->''f*' 


IN  Noifi'ir  Amkiik'a. 


1277 


oil's  ('oiniim- 
icr   Miir^^MiTt 


il  soo  tlxiso  Ovay 
th  Amovi'-iv  •;  s(M' 
^H  livtov,  toiliiii^  in 
,v  bvaviuo-,  for  tlio 
luT  caivoviiit^  over 

;  tliiH  work,  p.  '1' 


flic  sctni-fi'o/cti  IIiukIh  of  IIikIsoii'h  I'mv,  or  llir  nlino^if; 
|H'i|M'liiiil  sriowH  iliiit  li)^  iiroiitid  \'nr  AlliiiltMSfii.  liiihc, 
ill  noi'lli  l.'iiiliiiln  (!()'.  Look  til  \\\('  |)iiii;^IiI('I'm  of  Dm 
(IroHH,  HMiliii<^'  ill  IH;")"*  from  Trc^^iilcir,  in  l''r;iiic(',  lo 
AvoyrllcM,  ill  liOiiisiiiiDi,  INlniy  IFyfirinllic,  Hii|M'rior  of 
(lie  I'lisl  colony  ;  IMiiry  A','!ifli;i,  of  llic  second,  in  iMno. 
II  is  lliis  Iiisi  colony  wliicli,  wlicn  tlicir  Hliip  tiikcH  llnf 
fur  out  111.  sen,  iiHHcnihli'  in  llicir  ciiliin  mid  cIimiiI,  IIki 
Stih'i-  Ittyi'iKi-'*^  \\n'\\,  (^iiccii  ;  Iniil,  Moljicr  of  Mcr.-y, 
our  life,  our  snvccIiichh,  and  our  liopc"  Tlicso  mIvo  rc- 
cilc  cMcIi  day  llic  Tiillle  OIVkm!  (»f  llic  I'IcshcmI  Vir,%fiii. 

Tlicn,  vIm'ii  Kciiliicky  wuh  a  wildcrncsH,  nlniist,  in 
1812,  luid  lioly  I'\-illi('r  Ncrinckx  l.'iltorcd  uh  niisxioniiry 
tlicic,  lie  culled  inlo  cxisfiMuu',  to  uid  ilie  (fiuiKo  of  Clod 
iiiid  Our  fjiidv,  lli((  "Sislcu's  of  liorctto,  oi-  I'lifUids  of 
i\l;ir}'  fit  Ilie  foot  of  llie  Cross  ;"  tlieir  oliject,  (Irsl,  tlieir 
owii  |)erfecli(Ui,  and  llieii  tli(!  (Mlucation  of  ^ii'ls,  eHjX!- 
(•i;iily  of  tlu!  very  ])oor.  YU\  calls  llieir  liouse  on  Ifur- 
(liii's  Creek,  Loriitto,  tlu)  liouso  wluu'cof  Otir  T/vdv  "wn.i 
tlie  niistr(!ss  on  eurlli ;  witliin  wlios(!  walls  Our  Lord 
l)('('!ini(^  iiicaniaie.  St.  Mary'n  poverty  was  to  lie  tluar 
nio(^.cl  of  life.  Tlieir  liouses  aro  tlieniforo  j)oor  and 
badly  furnished,  their  food  is  of  tho  plaincsst  kind,  and 
tlioir  raiment  of  the  coarscist.  Hard  labor  in  the  fields 
and  forests  Avas  to  bo  their  earthly  luxury,  and  their 
lives  penitential — banjfooted  most  of  tho  year,  for  ono 
item.'     "Poor    to   extremity,   but   ah,"   says    saintly 


'  SkdtclicH  of  tlio  Early  Catliolio  MisHions  in  Kentucky.    By  Rt 
Eev.  M.  J.  Simkling,  Bishop  of  Louisville ;  pp.  200-213. 


278 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


Bishop  Flagct,  "such  spotless  clejiiiliuoss!'"  Now, 
they  have  at  least  ten  cstaLlishmeiits  in  Iventucky, 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  out  among  the  Osage  Indians. 
There  are  two  hundred  Sisters  now,  and  every  housu 
has  schools.  And  then,  these  "  Friends  oi"  Mary  at 
the  Cross"  meet  in  their  darkened  chapel  when  three 
o'clock  comes  round  each  day,  for  a  long  meditation 
on,  and  commemoration  of.  Our  Lord's  drear  Passion  ; 
and  •while  the  bell  tolls  mournfully^  ^iicj  muriiuir  at 
stated  intervals,  "  O  suffering  Jesus !  O  sorrowful 
Mary!'" 

Then,  close  by  the  side  of  these  good  religious,  and 
educating  more  children  to  love  and  reverence  8t. 
Mary,  are  the  Dominicans ;  and  St.  Dominic,  you 
know,  is  the  Father  of  the  Tlosary.  Not  of  that  nniu- 
ner  of  prayer,  but  only  of  that  manner  brought  to  per- 
fection of  practice  ;  for  the  use  of  beads  in  prayer 
sweeps  far  back  beyond  the  Incarnation  of  Our  Divine 
Ivedeemer,  and  is  common  to  all  Oriental  nationsi, 
Pagan,  Hebrew,  Mahomnicdan,  and  Christian.  Now, 
the  first  two  women  of  this  order  in  the  present  States, 
so  far  as  we  can  find  out,  were  in  Kentucky,  and  were 
both  called  Mary.  They  were  here  in  1807  or  1808, 
Then  they  were  at  St.  Mary's,  Somerset,  Ohio,  in  1819 ; 
and  they  have  houses  in  Zanesville  in  that  last-naiuwl 


I  V.;: 


1  Sketches  of  the  Life,  Times,  and  Character  of  Rt.  Rev.  Benfidict 
Joseph  Flaget,  first  Bishop  of  Louisville.  By  Rt.  Rev.  M.  J.  Spal 
ding ;  p.  290. 

■'  Letter  of  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Spalding,  Oct.  2.  18C1 


lY 

iiess!'"     Now, 
in  Kentucky, 
>sa|j;o  lutlians. 
d  cverv  houso 
Is   of  Miiiy  at 
pel  Avhcn  tlivee 
ong  luoJitatiou 
drear  Tassioii ; 
ley  uiurumv  at 
il    O   sorrowful 

)d  religious,  ami 
\   reverence   St. 
,.   Dominic,  you 
^ot  of  tliat  niaii- 
•  broiiglit  to  per- 
beads  in  prayer 
,11  of  Our  Divine 
)ru'ntal   nations, 
'hristian.     ^'o^Y, 
|c  present  States, 
,itucky,  and  were 
lin  1807  or  1808. 
t,01iio,inl8rJ; 
tliat  last-named 


of  Kt.  Rev.  Bcncdicl 
lU.  Rev.  M.  J.  Spal 


m  North  America. 


279 


State,  and  in  Bcnicia  in  California,  in  Memphis  and 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  in  Brooklyn,  Long  Island. 

Their  first  convent  was  called  St.  Rose ;  their 
second,  St.  Magdalene,  now  called  St.  Catherine's.  I 
only  know  them  to  be  in  a  most  especial  manner  de- 
voted to  the  Blessed  Virgin ;  to  be  zealous  in  impart- 
ing that  love  to  others.  They  educate  a  couple  of 
hundred  pupils  at  least  each  year;  and  in  the  same 
State  of  Kentucky  the  Sisters  of  Charity  at  Nazareth 
teach  between  four  and  five  hundred. 

Our  road  for  the  rest  of  this  chapter  must  bo  a  very- 
undetermined  one.  Perforce  a  vagabond,  wo  wander 
from  mountain  to  prairie,  from  forest  to  sacred  sea- 
side, picking  up  here  a  woodland  flower,  there  a  peb- 
ble ;  sometimes  getting  a  mere  glance  at  some  bright 
object,  and  utterly  unable,  for  thicket,  surf,  or  quick- 
sand, to  come  any  nearer.  What  we  shall  get  into  our 
basket,  however,  be  it  agate  or  patch  of  moss,  we  lay 
on  Our  Lady's  altar,  persuaded  of  this  at  least,  that 
she  will  have  no  contempt  for  it. 

The  Sisters  of  Providence,  in  Oregon,  in  Canada,  in 
Vermont,  those  who  received  at  Grossp.  He  the  thou- 
sand of  ship-fever  patients  in  1818 ;  these  educate 
some  hundred  and  fifty  girls  who  pay,  and  some  nine 
hundred  who  are  too  poor  for  that.  The  "  Sisters  of 
the  Holy  Names  of  Jesus  and  Mary"  all  bear  the 
name  of  Mary,  and  teach  a  thousand  pupils.  The 
Sisters  of  the  Presentation  at  St.  Hyacinth ;  the  Sisters 
of  St.  Joseph ;  the  Daughters  of  St.  Anno  ;  how  many 
do  they  teach  to  honor  Mary  ?     God  knows,  and  God 


280 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


W- 


rewards.  Everywhere,  to  him  who  has  eyes  and  wlio 
looks  out  of  them,  there  is  observable  some  new  par- 
terre from  the  Church's  perpetual  fertility.'  On  tlie 
day  which  sees  these  hues  written,  we  read  in  tlie 
Freeman's  Journal  of  New  York  these  facts :  How,  in 
the  year  of  grace  1814,  a  small  community  of  nxuis  en- 
tered the  diocese  of  Cincinnati,  having  the  title  of 
"  The  Most  Precious  Blood,"  whose  principal  office 
consists  in  the  nocturnal  adoration  of  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  together  with  other  duties 
common  to  most  convents,  and  som<'.  peculiar  to  then- 
selves. 

The  founder  of  the  Arch-confraternity  of  Priests  of 
the  Most  Precious  Blood  was  the  Canon  Caspar  di 
Bufalo,  who  was  born  at  Home,  A.  d.  1780.  Another 
true  benefactor  of  America  he,  issuing  like  so  mauy 
others  from  the  red  /(iihjc  of  that  French  Revolution. 

Chiefly  through  his  exertions  the  Arch-confraternity 
of  the  Most  Precious  Blood  was  organized,  in  1815,  at 
Rome.  So  rapid  was  its  progress,  that  fifteen  years 
later,  in  18o0,  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  lesser 
confraternities  were  already  affiliated  Avith  it,  not  rnly 
in  Europe,  but  in  Africa,  India,  and  China.  It  was  not 
until  some  years  later  that  the  first  bod}^  of  these  holy 
missionaries  directed  their  steps  towards  America, 
The  Rev.  M.  Sales  Brunner,  with  eight  missionary 
priests  and  six  novices,  sailetl  in  184:3  for  New  York, 
and   upon   the    invitation   of    the    Most   Rev.   ArcL- 

■  See  M.  de  Courcy's  "  Servantcs  de  Diuu,"  pamrn. 


'^ 


MIY 


IN  North  America. 


281 


i  eyes  and  who 
souie  new  pjir- 
L'tility.'     On  tlio 
sve  read  in  the 
1  facts :  How,  iu 
nity  of  nuns  en- 
iug   the  title  of 
principal  ofTico 
he  Most  Blessed 
ith  other  duties 
)eculiar  to  then- 

lity  of  Priests  of 
lanon  Gaspar  di 
1780.     Another 
g  like  so  many 
ich  Revolution, 
ch-confraternity 
nized,  in  1815,  at 
at  fifteen  years 
and  tifty  lesser 
with  it,  not  «  nly 
una.    It  was  uot 
)dy  of  these  holy 
jwards   America, 
[iight   missionary 
43  for  New  York, 
Lost   llev.    Arcb- 

Mu,"  passim. 


n 


hishop,  established  themselves  in  the  diocese  of  Cin- 
cinnati. 

During  a  pious  pilgrimage  at  Rome,  in  the  year 
183'2,  Madame  Anna  Maria  Brunner,  mother  of  the 
reverend  gentleman  mentioned  above,  uniting  herself 
with  the  greatest  fervor  in  all  the  objects  of  the  saintly 
Canon  di  Bufalo,  became  a  member  of  his  Arcli-con- 
fratcrnity,  and  on  returning  to  her  native  land,  re- 
solved to  consecrate  the  remainder  of  her  days  to  the 
adoration  of  the  Most  Precious  Blood  of  Jesus,  in  tho 
Holy  Sacrament  of  the  altar.  Tho  better  to  withdraw 
from  distractions  which  might  tend  to  interrupt  her 
devotions,  she  retired  to  the  solitary  castle  of  LoAven- 
berg,  in  the  Grisons  (Switzerland),  where,  in  the  course 
of  the  following  year,  .-.he  was  joined  by  twelve  devoiit 
young  women  from  Alsace  and  Baden,  who  placed 
themselves  under  her  direction,  and  for  whom  she 
prepared  a  rule,  by  which  they  led  a  regular  religious 
life  in  the  observance  of  nocturnal  adoration. 

Tlie  night  was  sul)divi(h!d,  and  each  member  passed 
two  hours  before  the  altar.  Every  day,  at  the  close  of 
the  morning  prayers  and  before  the  celebration  of  the 
Holy  Mass,  the  sentences  enjoined  by  Arch-confrater- 
nity were  repeated  by  each  member  of  the  community, 
in  an  audible  voice  ;  and  during  the  celebration  of  tho 
Mass,  they  recited  together  tho  litany  of  the  Most 
Precious  Blood.  The  day  was  employed  in  manual 
labor,  always  accompanied  by  prayers  or  meditation, 
in  the  house  or  garden,  or  in  the  fielels  ;  for  they  were 
poor,  and  could  command  no  other  means  of  subsist- 


282 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  IMaky 


R*' 


■% 


onco,  eitliov  for  tluMiiHcilvtis  or  for  tlui  iiuli^'cMit  f(Mii;iI(» 
orpli.-uiK  whom  llicy  sustuliicd  in  llicir  (ioiivciit  Tlio 
blossiji{^  of  God  gavo  iho,  fruits  ol'  llicir  toil  ;  iiiul  trusl- 
iiig  to  (ho  rt'sulis  of  tlicir  pi'aycus  juul  iinliisliy,  juid 
tho  powerful  iuton^essiou  of  tlio  Hlcsstul  iMolIu!!'  of 
(lod,  thvy,  iil'lcr  a  WMc.  liino,  cliarj^cd  tluMusclvcM  with 
tho  expt'uso  of  oducaliug  for  tlio  holy  ])ri(isthood  scvdii 
young  inissionarios,  who  woro  afterwards  attaclicd  to 
tho  Z(>alous  band  ^vh()  (as  wo  have  I'clatcMl)  cnbiiod 
tho  diot'oso  of  Cincinnati,  A.  i).  LSI;). 

A  yoar  after  tho  arrival  of  tho  missionary  priests, 
tho  ]\[ost  l{ev.  Archbishop  of  Cincinnati  (^xtendiid 
an  invitation  also  to  Iho  community  at  LowcmiIxmi; 
to  establish  tlunnselves  in  his  diocese,  whicdi  wms  jic- 
cepteil.  The  simple  story  of  tlu>  trav»ds  hitherward, 
by  land  a7ul  si'a,  of  tlu>se  angcdic  women,  as  given  in 
letters  to  their  friends,  is  most  touching.  Our  limits 
contine  us  to  a  few  bri(>f  extracts  from  this  intiu'cst- 
iug  correspondence.  After  a  tearful  parting  witli  the 
beloved  ones  at  Lowenberg,  -whoso  faces  they  should 
seo  no  nuiro  on  oarih,  tln^y  went  first  to  prostrate 
themselves  at  tho  feet  of  our  I^ady  of  EinsicHlehi,  to 
implore  her  blessing  on  their  great  undertaking,  and 
to  place  it  under  her  direction,  lie  freshed  and  full  of 
consolation,  they  now  diroct(Kl  their  steps  towards  the 
great  AVi^stern  ocean,  ^vhich  they  nutst  traverse  in 
order  to  reach  their  goal  in  tho  midst  of  the  vast  coii- 
tiuent  beyond  it,  yet  no  fear  or  danger  agitated  tlioir 
strong  and  faithful  hearts. 

"  Truly,"  writes  ouo  of  them,  "  this  great  jouruey 


IN  Noivrri  Ameiitca. 


283 


lu  this  iiiU'rcst- 


s  great  journey 


mij^lit  woll  liiivo  frij^litoTiod  iih,  but  wlKm  wo  roniorn- 
borcd  that  tlio  Sou  of  Ood  liad  fnu'ly  pounid  out  tlio 
last  drop  of  his  most  jn-ocious  l)h>od  for  us,  we  said 
Olio  to  another,  'If  in  Aineriea  wo  can  pr(iv<int  ovon 
one  mortal  sin,  tlui  fati}jju(is  wo  now  undisr^o  will  bo 
richly  rei)aid  ;  and  should  avo  find  nothiii}^  (ilse  to  do, 
%vo  can  touch  our  C.-itholies  to  say  tho  llosary  of  the 
]\rost  rr(;(;ious  ]jlood,  and  wo  can  K(H',k  out  some  poor 
orphans  who  have  need  of  our  care,  and  then  wo  shall 
bo  c()nt(Uit.  But  ovon  if  wo  find  nothing  to  do,  wo 
know  woll  that  our  d(!ar  Lord  will  attcept  our  good 
iiilciitions  to  hon(U'  His  groat  sacrifico ;  for,  sweet 
Mollier,  have  avo  not  laid  our  undertaking,  and  all  that 
may  result  from  it,  at  thy  feet?  When  wo  ^ecoptod 
tliis  mission  to  Anuu'ica,  did  wo  not  place  ourselves 
uii(l(;r  thy  blessed  patronage  as  S(!rv.'ints  of  Mary  ?'  " 

Thus  rejoicing  on  their  way,  these  humble  daughters 
of  our  Blessed  Lady  roacluul  America. 

Within  a  few  days,  more  than  forty  Catholic  maidens 
were  received  for  catechetical  instructions  by  the  Sis- 
ters, who  lost  not  a  moment  in  resuming  their  religious 
life  in  its  original  order,  both  in  tho  nocturnal  adora- 
tion of  the  Most  Bless(Hl  Sacrament  and  in  the  daily 
manual  labor,  commingled,  as  before,  with  constant 
prayer  and  meditation,  aiul  tho  offices  of  tho  chapel. 
Their  first  Mass  was  offered  on  tho  midnight  eve  of 
Christmas,  and  they  commemorated  this  happy  event 
by  naming  their  chapel  Maria  zur  Krippe — AngKce, 
Mary  of  the  Manger. 

The  community  increased  rapidlj  by  the  accession 


284 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


^^ 


of  many  young  women  from  Europe,  who  desired  to 
particij)ate  in  their  holy  Hfo  of  seclusion,  which  is  at 
the  same  time  so  full  of  usefulness ;  and  from  time  to 
time  American  girls  presented  themselves  for  admis- 
sion, so  that  within  five  years  after  their  arrival  the 
number  of  the  Sisterhood  had  reached  one  hundred 
and  fifty-four.  At  this  time  (18G2)  their  catalogue  re- 
cords the  names  of  more  than  four  hundred,  some  of 
whom  have  already  entered  upon  their  rest. 

Ten  convents  of  their  order  are  distributed  over  a 
region  of  some  five  and  twenty  miles  or  more  in  length, 
and  of  unequal  breadth.  They  are  usually  seated  ia 
the  midst  of  fertile  fields  of  corn,  and  surrounded  by 
orchards,  vegetable  gardens,  and  vineyards,  which  pre- 
sent the  most  strilcing  contrasts  to  the  surrounding 
wilderness  of  woods,  which  extends  in  all  directious 
further  than  the  eye  can  reach.  It  is  a  pleasing  siiec- 
tacle  to  the  traveller,  as  he  pursues  his  solitary  path 
along  the  rude  highways  that  perforate  the  vast  forests 
of  this  district,  when,  above  the  unbroken  luie  of  lofty 
trees,  he  descries,  first,  a  symmetrical  steeple  ;  a  little 
further  on,  he  is  almost  startled  by  a  sudden  opening, 
which  discloses  an  apparition  of  wide  fields,  from  near 
the  centre  of  Avhich  rises  a  cluster  of  substantial  edi- 
fices of  various  kinds.  The  church,  no  longer  a  rude 
structure  of  logs,  has  now  become  a  spacious,  well- 
proportioned,  and  solid  pile  of  brick  and  stone. 

Here  Father  Brunner  began  to  preach  on  DevotioB 
to  Our  Lady,  and  on  the  nearly  unknown  devotion  of 
her  Eosary.     In  the  Society,  when  the  sun  is  settmg, 


:":^^<.T:.4i'" 


IN  North  America. 


285 


they  say  the  Rosary,  the  Litany  of  tlie  Blessed  Virgin, 
and  have,  by  special  privilege,  the  Benediction  of  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament.  Then,  at  night  prayers,  again 
the  Eosary ;  and,  in  the  silence  of  the  midni.  ,  each 
sister,  during  her  two  hours  of  adoration,  recites  it 
tlirice.  Oh,  think  of  that.  How  often  from  these  holy 
women  goes  up  that  beautiful  supplication  for  us  all, 
while  the  beads  drop  noislessly,  one  by  one,  through  ' 
the  weariless  fingers,  and  the  hiisli  of  the  solemn 
hours  is  scarce  broken  by  the  murmur  of  "  Holy  Mary, 
Mother  of  God,  pray  for  us  sinners  now  and  at  the 
hour  of  our  death!"  You  can  hear  the  Brothers  and 
the  Sisters  at  their  daily  labor,  break  into  praises  of 
Saint  Mary ;  and  if  they  rest  from  their  toil,  it  is  only, 
with  many  of  them,  that  they  may  tell  their  beads.  If 
any  thing  is  greatly  needed,  if  epidemics  threaten,  if 
temporal  or  sjnritual  loss  seem  to  impend,  a  devotion 
to  the  gentle  Mother  is  commanded,  and  they  say  that 
they  always  obtain  their  reqviests.' 

So  tliat  you  do  not  wonder  to  hear  that,  all  through 
the  surrounding  country,  the  text-book  in  each  family 
is  Saint  Alphonsus  Liguori's  "  Glories  of  Marj',"  and 
that  the  Chaplet  is  their  daily  devotion ;  that  the 
chapels  are  crowded  every  evening ;  that  in  the  bitter 
winter  you  can  see  lines  of  lanterns,  glimmering 
through  the  dark  of  the  early  morning,  as  the  faithful 
pick  their  way,  through  the  most  detestable  of  roads, 


'  Letters  of  Rev.  Joseph  Dwenger,  Priest  C.PP.S.,  September  14  and 
August  24, 18G1. 


286 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


to  the  break-of-diiy  Mass  and  first  Rosary.  All  are 
enrolled  in  one  or  more  Confraternities  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin — that  of  the  "  Sacred  Heart  of  Mary,  for  the 
Conversion  of  Sinners,"  or  that  of  the  "  Scapular,"  or 
of  the  "  Living  Rosary,"  or  of  "  Onr  Lady's  Seven  Sor- 
rows," or  of  the  "  Lnniaculate  Conception,"  or  in  tlio 
"  Sodality  of  the  Blessed  Virgin."  "  Our  people,"  says 
a  devoted  priest  of  that  region,  "  would  almost  think  it 
a  mortfd  sin  to  omit  the  Rosary  on  Sundays  or  on 
Festivals."  Every  few  miles  a  new  brick  church,  or 
convent,  or  pious  school,  gleams  through  the  openings 
of  the  woods;  and  the  venerable  Archbishoj)  Purccll 
calls  the  place  the  ''  Thebais  of  Ohio."  It  is,  too,  the 
**  Blessed  Virgin's  land,"  and  the  whole  district  re- 
sounds with  Saint  Bernard's  cry,  0  clcmens,  0  pia,  0 
ditJcis  Virgo  Maria!  O  piteoiis,  O  gentle,  O  swett 
Virgin  Mary ! 


i:^ 


■W' 


IN  North  Ameiiica. 


287 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Cvii  Lady  or  Saint  Uusula  and  Saint  Angela. 

As  aarly  as  the  year  1700,  tlio  nuns  of  Our  Lady  of 
r.a  Ti'tqipo  wore  at  work  amid  tlio  ico  of  New  Scot- 
land.' V>y  171)0  tlie  nuns  of  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Car- 
lut'l,  lu)Mi(>  of  tlio  Scapular,  wore  laboring  in  Maryland. 
"Wlien  }  on  <^oi  to  Cincinnati,  in  these  days,  and  debark 
from  tlie  raiJAvay  train,  perhaps  you  may  want  to  go  to 
tlio  catlicdral.  Get,  then,  into  one  of  those  "  street- 
cars," and  ride  up  into  the  town.  After  a  scpiare  or 
two  has  b(.'(Mi  passed,  a  woman  gets  in,  probably  ac- 
companied by  a  child.  Young  looking,  but  how 
young  you  cannot  nearly  guess :  the  infinito  peace  of 
God  seom.-i  to  settle  on  such  faces,  so  as  to  destroy  the 
marks  of  Time's  advance.  Whether  she  be  twenty  or 
forty  is  not  particularly  evident.  But  you  remark  her. 
Tiiore  is  a  look  of  singular  sweetness  and  patience  on 
the  face,  which  gives  refinement ;  or  it  may  be  that 
that  is  there  naturally — you  don't  know ;  she  may 
liavo  been  born  a  countess,  for  there  are  such  among 
tliem.  There  is  a  bonnet,  not  very  peculiar,  but  such 
as  nobody  in  good  society  would  like  to  wear,  at  least ; 
there  is  a  black  cloak — a  very  poor  woman's  cloak ; 


Vie  do  Marguerite  Bourgooys,  ii.  470. 


288 


Devotion  to  tilk  B.  V.  IMary 


I*' 


tluTo  is  a  ooiirso  brown  robo,  ami  on  tlio  bosom  of 
that,  Uio  crost  aiul  anus  of  hcv  nobilitj,  is  a  (U'iiusoii 
cross.  Tliat  is  a  Franciscum  Hospital  Sister,  out  \n'<^- 
giiig  from  door  to  door,  for  food,  clotlies,  money,  any 
thing  that  good  p(H)2)lo  choose  to  j^ive  for  the  Kup- 
port  of  a  hospital  where  any  who  are  poor  may 
outer,  "  without  distinctiou  of  sex,  age,  country,  or  ro- 
ligion." 

There  arc  only  two  doubts  to  bo  settled  :  da  the  ap- 
plicant in  downright  need?  and,  is  there  a  bed  empty? 
Those  decided,  they  take  the  patient  in,  and  set  to 
work  to  support  and  nnrso  him  or  her  for  the  love  of 
the  dear  God  who  div>d  for  ns  all.  That  is  the  Avay 
these  ucAV  ciiisaders,  these  red-cross  sisters,  do  at  tho 
Hospital  of  Mary's  Helv.  They  were  added  to  our 
holy  Archbishop's  causes  of  gratitude  to  God,  somo 
three  or  four  rears  ago,  invisible  for  awhile — violets 
lu  the  winter  ;  by  and  by,  when  tho  spring  came,  a 
conple  of  years  later,  blooming  out  modestly,  two  days 
after  their  arrival,  begging  from  door  to  door  in  tho 
strange,  uncultivated,  but  not  unkindly  town.  Aud 
then,  as  reward  for  their  energy,  God  sent  them,  in  tlio 
lirst  week,  somo  dozen  of  pauper  patients,  in  a  few 
weeks  forty,  and  then  they  knew  that  His  blessing  was 
with  them.  Ssvift  then  as  weeds,  but  pure  and  sacroil 
as  tall  llli(^s,  sprang  up  their  convent  and  their  hos- 
pital of  ":Mary's  Help."  In  18()0,  two  hundred  and 
seventy  patients  had  been  nursed;  the  next  year, /f? 
Junidrcd  and  cir/hfcen,  and,  among  those,  thirty,  worn 
out  with  age,  for  life ;  and  all  supported,  and  all  ex- 


IN  NOUTH  AmEUICA. 


289 


])OiiH<!H  paitl,  hy  tlio  dtiUjj  askiiKj  (if  (ilms  from,  door  fc, 
door. 

Ah,  1)1(!SS0(1  wotnon,  (l)iu<,'litorH  of  Cliaiit y  and  "Mercy, 
Korvants  of  the  poor,  hj)ouh(!S  of  Jcjsuh,  Misters  of  ni(>ss- 
(hI  ]\[arv,  vestals  who  ward  oil'  the*  wralli  of  .Justice,' 
jmrc  types  of  consocratc  wonianhood,  yc  an;  (sailed  by 
many  iiamos,  yo  livo  by  the  pulse  of  one  Heart.  Other 
creeds  have  striven  to  imitate  you,  and  have  gotten 
exotic  and  bereaved  plants,  and  these  hav(}  found  no 
nourishment  in  those  stranger  lands,  by  stranj^er 
waters.  But  the  Catholic  sister  is  a  strong  and  glori- 
ous tree,  Avhose  sap  is  the  IJlood  of  the  Lord,  whoso 
roots  are  planted  in  the  Paradise  on  high.  IMiiidc  how 
those  sisters  move  about  the  noisome  streets  (jf  pover- 
ty and  dark  infecticma  lanes,  quieiiy.  as  by  stealth, 
shvll'(<j  through  the  shadows,  nncovetous  of  man's  ap- 
probation. Gentle,  modest  liower.s  of  holiness  ;  the 
fragrance  of  whose  mercy  and  prayerfuln(>ss,  and  love 
for  God  and  man,  like  the  scent  of  the  Alpine  rhodo- 
dendron, csca])es  the  perception  of  man,  and  floats 
straightway  upwards  to  the  Throne. 

One  day,  too,  shall  they  all  be  gathered  there,  and 
out  from  the  lips  of  Him  who  died  for  us,  of  the  King 
and  Judge,  these  words  shall  flow  :  "  My  sisters,  I  was 
au  hungered  and  yo  gave  Me  meat,  I  Avas  thirsty  and 
ye  gave  Mc  drink,  I  was  naked  and  ye  (Hotlied  Mo,  sick 
and  ye  ministered  unto  Me,  in  prison  and  ye  visited  Mo. 


'  In  pagan  Rome,  the  passing  by  of  a  Vestal  Virgin  conveyed  par 
don  to  criminals  doumed  to  deutli. 
V  18 


290 


Pr.voTioN  TO  THE  B.  V.  IVFaiiy 


•l^- 


For  iiiiiHiii\ich  us  yo  did  it  unto  tlic  IciiHt  of  my  jioor 
brctlircn,  ye  liavo  tloiu!  it  unto  M«^  AVlicii  yo  conHuhiU 
iho  Horrowl'iil,  yoiu*  wohIh  of  ])ity  Hiiuk  into  My  woiui.lcd 
liciirt ;  it  was  ISIy  cur  that  listened  when  yo  inHtiiuticd 
tlio  ]iaup«'r ;  whvu  yc  ivlievod  tlio  bcj^^ar,  f/ii's  ])l(irc('(l 
hand  took  llio  alms;  \\\\o\\  yo  ffxvo  drink  totlm  thirsty, 
yo  lii'ttnl  tho  cup  to  tlu!  lips  of  your  llcidccnun'  mid  your 
God.     And  these  shall  j^'o  into  ev(>rlaslin^  lif(^" ' 

As  you  leave  tho  Colle{j;o  of  Our  Lady  of  Anf^(>ls,  to 
cross  into  Canada  by  tho  Sus})ension  Ihid^'o,  you  sec 
nl)ov(^  tho  ralnbow-crowncid  mist  tho  Convent  of  Our 
Lady  of  I'eace.  It  is  a  lumso  of  Loretlines,  and,  he- 
ing  a  place  of  ])ilgrimiige,  will  ho  spoken  of  lu'reaftiU'. 
L(it  us  como  to  Our  Lady  of  Saint  Ursula  and  Suiut 
Angola. 

There  is  an  order  of  holy -women  "wonderfully  raised 
up,"  says  tho  Collect,  "  in  His  Church  by  God,  muler 
the  protection  of  tho  glorious  T""  'in  Mary,  Mother  of 
His  only-begotton  Son."'  These  enter  tho  Chapel, 
wherein  they  take  their  veil  and  vows,  to  tho  music  of 
this  solemn  march : 

0  OLORIOSA  vmaiNUM.3 

O  Miiry,  while  thy  Maker  blest 
Is  iimirlslicil  at  tliy  virjj;ln  brcawt, 
Such  glory  shines  tliat  stars,  less  hrii^ht, 
Uehold  thy  lace  and  hiao  their  liiflit. 


L\ 


>  St.  Matthew,  xxv.  34  40. 

3  Cijllect  for  Feast  of  St.  Ursula. 

*  I  find  this  renderiiijj  in  Bishop  Enyland's  Works,  iv.  203. 


■  ]  .nrrw'f^ 


IN  Noiirii  Ameuica. 


291 


Tilt'  ]osH  timt  imtn  in  Kvi'  ilr-iilorcn, 
Tliv  fniitt'iil  womb  in  ('hrint  rcst'iics; 
And  vimkt'H  tlio  wiiy  to  ln'iivi^n  fn^o 
For  ilicni  tiiat  umurii  to  lollow  thoo. 

U\  ilirn  ilut  hi'Kvonly  pitcw  (lispliiy 
Ami  hIiow  till-  lif;litM  (tl'i'mlli'SM  diiy. 
Nin/iif,  riuiHoiMcil  niition«!  win^,  and  own 
Your  rnnw)tn  wus  u  Virgin'H  Bon. 

May  njTO  to  npn  forovor  ninff 
Tim  Virgin's  Hon  and  Anfjfid'a  Klnjif, 
And  praise,  witli  tlii^  crjcstiai  iuiHt, 
Tho  Fiitiicr,  Hon,  uud  Holy  (ihost. 

And  tlioii  ti:o  edohrimt  chants  solemnly,  for  tho 
postulant,  Oi'd  pro  w,  kSuncfit  I)i  I,  dcnUrl.i'  ;  and  tlio 
choir  of  sisters  rt'S})ond  in  harmony,  (If  (Htjnn.  ri/icinlur 
protinssioiilhiis  Cln'inti.  "Pray  for  lior.  Holy  ]N[oth('r  of 
God,  that  sho  may  bo  made  worthy  of  tho  i)r()misos  of 
Christ.'"  Those  aro  tho  Ursulin«>s,  and  to  mo,  at  least 
whilo  mnki'ifj;  this  book,  thoy  hovxw  inseparable,  some- 
how, from  the  Sisters  of  Charity  and  Mercy.  lu;n-cm- 
ber  tho  beginning;  of  our  story,  and  seo  how  they  stood 
side  by  side  amid  tho  Canadian  snows.  When  they 
were  burnt  out  in  tho  sharp  winter  of  IHDS  0,"  it  was 
tho  sistcu's  who  received  thorn  into  such  shelter  as  they 
had,  and  clothed  them  for  tho  time  in  their  own  gray 
habits.  At  New  Orleans,  they  liad,  at  one  time,  to 
perform  tho  duties  of  Hospital  Sisters,  for  they  were 
tho  only  religious  there  in  1728,^  and  for  many  years 

'  Works  of  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  England,  iv.  193. 

*  Vide  tlda  work,  pp.  40,  41. 

'  Auuales  de  I'Ordru  do  Sainte  Ursule,  Clermont-Ferrand,  ii.  GOl. 


292 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


-::4 


W 


tiftor.  It  wjis  iu  tlioir  schools  tliat  tlio  first  Indian 
girls  w(U'o  tiinglit ;  it  may  bo  there  that  tlii^  last  shall 
loavii  tholr  Ave  Maria,  Lcforo  thoy  perish  xiiulor  tlio 
ruthless  feet  of  the  white  m'an. 

AVheii  we  last  saw  the  (laughters  of  Saint  Augclix 
Merici,  they  w(>re  iu  Montreal  and  Quebec.  A  century 
later  wo  lind  them  amid  the  miasma  of  Louisiana. 
Mother  Mary  Traneh(>pain,  surnamed  of  Saint  Augus- 
tine, and  ten  devoted  companions,  form  the  first  baud 
who  go  to  the  city  of  N(nv  Orleans — city  of  so  mauy 
and  varied  destinies.  Wo  have  her  own  earnest  and 
pious  account  of  the  voyage;'  of  their  danger  aud 
wreck,  and  their  vow  to  Saint  Mary  the  Virgin  ;  of  lier 
perf'^et  confidence  in  that  good  Mother,  and  conse- 
quent calm  fearlessness."  Afterwards  she  describes 
the  arrival  and  rudo  settlement  of  their  community, 
and  then,  also,  she  has  to  tell  of  the  holy  death  of 
three  of  them,  as  each  in  her  turn  succumbed  to  tlio 
labors  and  the  insalubrity  of  the  climate. 

On  the  first  year  of  their  arrival  they  were  welcomed 
by  somewhat  such  terrors  as  greeted  their  sisters  loug 
ago  in  the  days  of  the  Iroquois.  The  Natchez  fell 
upon  Fort  Eosalie,  and  massacred  ail  but  tlio  children. 
Those,  or  thirty  at  least  of  them,  were  purchased  back 
from  the  savages,  and  formed  the  first  Orphan  Asylum 
of   the   Ursulines.      To  this  they  soon    added  otlicr 

'  llelation  du  Voyage  des  prcmit^rcs  Ursiilinos  a  la  Nonvelle  Orleans 
et  de  leur  ('tablisseiuont  en  cctte  ville.  Par  la  R.  More  St.  Augustin 
de  Tranchcpain. 

*  Relation  du  Voyage,  etc,,  pp.  15,  25,  26. 


'  ViWiiri^iT'-" 


IN  North  America. 


293 


gcliools,  one  for  J'oung  Froncli  ladies,  one  for  tlio  slavo 
woinon,  a  day-school  for  tlio  poorer  wliito  children,  a 
hospital,  and  a  Magdalen  Asylum.  So  that  not  con- 
tent with  being  Ursulines,  tlu!y  innst  needs,  for  awhile 
at  least,  make  theinselves  Daughters  of  Charity  and 
Sisters  of  the  Good  Shepherd.  And  for  all  these  toils, 
in  1730,  seven  nuns — it  was  all  that  was  left  of  them — 
found  courage  and  resignation  in  those  inexhaustible 
wells,  the  Hearts  of  Jesus  and  Mary.' 

By  and  b}'  there  comes,  in  1755,  a  new  claim  on  the 
charity  of  these  bravo  women,  a  claim  met  heartil}'^ 
and  with  good-will.     It  came  from  the  extreme  North, 
there  where  Mary  of  the  Incarnation  Avorlv(jd  and  wrote 
long  ago.     In  her  neighborhood,  but  still  further  north 
and  eastward,  in  the  now  British  province  of  Nova 
Scotia,  was  the  land  once  known  as  Acadia.     There 
are  many  Protestant  historians  Avho  sketch  the  sad 
history  of  the  cruel  ruin  of  these  settlennmts,  but  there 
arc  no   Catholic    authors  obtainable    by   me.      Most 
beautiful  of  all  narratives  is  Longfellow's  "  Evange- 
line ;"   but  it  tells  the  story  only  of  two  exiles,  both 
of  whom  find  their  rest  in  another  part  of  this  vast 
semi-continent,   and,   cradled   in   Nova   Scotia,   make 
their    graves    in    Pennsylvania.      When    Evangeline 
wandered    to    Louisiana,    she    found    only    Urhuline 
nuns,  as  there  were  no  other  religious  in  Now   Or- 
leans at  the   time   of   the   arrival  of    the   Acadians. 
These  holy  women  formed   tho  provisional    army  of 

"  Life  of  Bishop  Flnget,  pp.  157,  158. 


294 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary    ' 


m 


I  '■i 


Charity  and  Mercy  during  the  first  struggles  of  those 
countries. 

They  were  Bretons  originally,  these  Acndians,  and 
from  that  land,  and  from  illustrious  La  Veud^'e,  avIioso 
warrioi's  went  to  liattle  with  the  sacred  Heart  of  Mary, 
white  eml)roidercd,  upon  their  breasts,  they  Lrouglit 
their  fidelity  to  the  Queen  of  Angels,  far  over  the 
troubled  Atlantic,  to  tlie  wild  and  ice-bound  shores  of 
Cape  Breton.  They  made  those  deserts  blossom  ;  the 
valleys  of  that  boreal  and  breeze-swept  land  stood 
thict  with  golden  corn  ;  sixty  thousand  head  of  horned 
cattle  soon  grazed  iipon  the  pastures  tilled  l)y  their 
careful  and  industrious  hands.  The  flax  which  they 
cultivated,  and  the  flocks  which  they  reared,  spun  and 
woven  by  the  nimble  fingers  of  their  pious  Avonieu, 
clothed  the  Acadian  farmers.  Each  family  was  well 
able  to  provide  for  its  own  wants,  so  that  there  were 
no  poor,  and  little  barter.  The  blessing  of  paper- 
money  had  not  lighted  iipon  them,  and  they  had  little 
or  no  use  for  the  slight  stock  of  gold  and  silver  which 
they  possessed.  They  kept  as  clear  of  the  court  of 
justice  as  they  did  of  the  trader's  exchange.  The 
elders  of  the  villag.  settled  all  slight  quarrels  ;  they 
carried  the  greater  to  the  priest.  He  dre\v  their  pub- 
lic acts,  recorded  their  Avills,  kept  them  instructed  in 
the  law  of  God,  consecrated  their  lives  by  Sacraments, 
kept  vivid  in  their  souls  devotion  to  Mary  Im- 
maculate. His  salary  was  the  tumty-s-jvenih.  part 
of  the  harvest — always  more  than  he  needed,  for 
there  were  no  poor.     "Misery  was,  wholly  unknowD, 


IN  North  AimpicA. 


295 


4cs  of  tliose 

o 

cadians,  and 
outV'e,  whose 
eart  of  Mary, 

tlioy  brought 

far   over  the 
und  shores  of 

blossom  -,  the 
pt  hand  stood 
head  of  horned 

tilled  by  their 
aax  which  they 
eared,  spim  and 
L-  pious  women, 
family  was  well 
llhat  there  were 

ising  of  r^^r^^"' 

they  had  little 
.nd  silver  which 
of  the  court  of 
exchange.    The 
quarrels  ;  they 
drew  their  pub- 
■m  instructed  in 
bv  Sacraments, 
to    Mary  Im- 
■nlij-s:-ven1h   part 
he  needed,   for 
dioUy  unknown, 


and  henovolence    anticipated  the    demands   of   pov- 
erty. 

The  Acadian  married  young,  chose  his  own  partner 
for  life,  and  she  brought  him  her  portion  iu  flocks  and 
herds.    When  the  union  had  been  determined  on,  the 
whole  coi'iinunit}^  built   the   young   couple   a  house, 
broke  up  the  lands  about  it,  supplied,  them  v.'ith  life's 
necessaries  for  a  twelvcxiiouth,  and  bade   tliem  God 
speed.    The  population  numbered  eighteen  thousand 
scnils.    And  when  their  sun  was  at  its  serenest  the 
storm  came  down.     In  17C2  this  charge  Avas  brought 
against  them,  "  That  the  Council  were  fully  convineed 
of  their  strict  attachment  to  the  French  king,  and  their 
readiness  at   aU  times  to  take  part  with  and   assist 
him.""    This  was  the  cloud,  and  l\om  it  the  liglitning 
soon  fell.    In  the  Octave  of  Our  Jjady's  Seven  Sorrows, 
September  17,  they  stood  upon  the  shore  surrounded 
with  bayonets  which  wei'o  to  drive  them,  if  resisting, 
into  the  vessels  prepared  for  their  deportation.     Their 
houses,  churches,  barns,  and  mills  had  been  given  to 
the  flames — two  hundred  and  fifty-three  of  tlietie  burn- 
ing at  once  in  a  smgie  settlement,  five  hundred  lying 
iu  ashes  in  another.     Some  fled  and  perished  in  the 
woods,  some  made  good  their  escape,  most  of  them 
submitted  to  tlie  force  employed. 
Back  from  the  cold  beach  about  a  mile  stood  the 


'  Haliburton,  C.  J.,  i.  173. 

'  Proceedings  of  liis  Majesty's  Council  on  the  subject  of  the  removal 
of  tlio  Acadians  in  176'J,  extracted  from  Council  books. 


296 


Devotion  to  the  B.  Y.  Mary 


Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Acaclie.  Thore  thoy  gathered 
for  the  hist  time,  while  Father  Heyual  offered  the  Holy 
Mysteries  for  them.  Theu  they  marched  slowly  out, 
weeping,  telling  their  beads,  chanting  the  Litanies  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  singing  hymns  to  her  eternal  Son 
and  her.  All  the  way  from  that  chapel  to  the  shore 
the  mournful  procession  passed  through  the  kneeling 
ranks  of  their  wild  weeping  mothers  and  wives,  of  their 
sisters  and  little  children  ;  and  when  the  men  had 
passed,  these  rose  and  followed  to  the  shij^s.  And  so, 
driven  aboard,  they  passed  away  over  the  strange  seas, 
in  that  Octave  of  Our  Lady  of  Sorrows. 

The  sun  went  down.  Such  of  the  poor  women  as 
were  left  found  shelter  where  they  could  for  them- 
selves and  their  children,  and  the  pros^incial  soldiery 
stood  in  their  ranks  upon  tlv^  sands,  alone  in  a  once 
beautiful  and  fertile  country,  "  without  a  foe  to  sub- 
due, or  a  population  to  protect.  But  the  volumes  of 
smoke,"  sdja  the  Protestant  historian,  "which  tlio 
half-expiring  embers  emitted,  while  they  marked  tlie 
site  of  the  peasant's  cottage,  bore  testimony  to  the  ex- 
tent of  the  work  of  destruction.  For  several  succes- 
sive evenings  the  cattle  gathered  roiind  the  smol'':",g 
ruins,  as  if  in  expectation  of  the  return  of  their  masters, 
and  all  night  long  the  faithfui  watch-dogs  howled  over 
the  scene  of  desolation,  and  mourned  alike  the  band 
that  had  fed  and  the  house  that  had  sheltered  them." ' 


■  Hieto.ical  and  Statistical  Account  of  Nova  Scotia,  07  Hon.  Chief- 
Justice  Halibui-ton.    Halifax,  1829,  i.  180,  181. 


IN  Nohth  America. 


297 


All  these  sad  victims  were  sown  liLe  wild-flower 
seeds,  by  chance,  as  it  were,  all  along  the  North  Amer- 
ican coast  from  Main  to  Louisiana.  No  regard  was 
paid  to  family  ties  :  daughters  were  separated  from 
their  mothers,  wives  from  husbands,  and  little  children 
from  tlunr  families.  Such  of  the  latter,  a  large  num- 
her,  as  reached  New  Orleans,  formed  the  second  in- 
heritance of  orphans  which  fell  to  the  Ursulines  of  the 
South.    There,  at  least,  these  little  ones  found  a  home. 

Many  a  trial  to  their  faith,  hope,  and  patience,  had 
the  community  of  New  Orleans  to  sustain.  First,  want, 
and  labor,  and  poverty, — biit  these  were  natural  to  the 
missionary  nun ;  then  the  loss  of  eighteen  of  their 
mirabor  at  once,  who  retired  to  Havana  on  the  pur- 
chase of  Louisiana  by  the  United  States  Government ;' 
then  by  the  decay  of  religious  spirit  among  the  people, 
only  revived  by  the  coming  of  Bishop  Dubourg.  They 
knew  where  to  have  recourse  in  their  sorrows.  The 
good  bishop  having  obtained  for  them  the  permission 
of  the  Holy  Father  to  that  effect,  they  placed  them- 
selves under  the  especial  protection  of  Saint  Mary, 
and  called  themselves  thenceforward  Ursulines  of  the 
Presentation  of  Our  Lad  v."  And  then,  at  the  close  of 
1814,  having  finished  their  chapel,  they  erected  the 
statue  of  our  Lady  of  Swift  Help,  Notre  Dame  de 
Prompt  Scco7irs,  and  thither  go  the  Ursulines  for  com- 
fort now.    In  that  same  year  of  1815,  an  army  threat- 


Scotia,  by  Hon.  Cliief- 


■  Servantcs  de  Dieu :  La  Roche  Heron,  p.  28. 
'  This  was  effected  on  January  10,  1813 
18* 


298 


Devotion  to  B.  V.  Mary 


W 


ened  the  town  of  Now  Orleans,  and  General  Andrev 
Jackson  commanded  its  defences.  And  while  Old 
Hickory  swore  and  fonght  hard,  the  daughters  of  Saint 
Angela  knelt  before  the  statiie  of  Notre  Diime,  and 
behind  them  knelt  the  women  of  the  city,  lady  and 
negress  side  by  side,  all,  with  earnest  sui)plication, 
pouring  forth  the  Litany  of  "  Our  Lady  of  Pronipt 
Succor."  And  the  cannon  that  thundered  without, 
and  the  rattle  of  musketry,  and  the  shouts  of  tlio 
fighters  went  tlicW  way  also.  Perhaps,  since  then, 
with  the  same  or  greater  agony  of  supplication,  they 
may  have  prayed  this  Litany ;  perhaps  they  are  pray- 
ing it  now,  October,  1802. 

AVe  will  condense  it  for  economy  of  space.  After  tlie 
usual  Kyrie  eleison  and  invocation  of  the  Most  Holy 
Trinity,  of  "  Holy  Mary,"  and  of  "  Mother  of  the  In- 
fant Jesus,"  it  is  in  substance  as  follows  : 

Our  Ladj'  of  Prompt  Help,  Pray  for  vs. 

Our  Lady,  Prompt  Help  of  those  who  invoke  tliee 
with  confidence  ;  of  those  devout  to  the  Lifant  Jesns ; 
of  those  yearning  for  an  earnest  and  enlightened  faitli ; 
of  penitents ;  of  afflicted  families  ;  of  the  }K)or  and  in- 
firm ;  of  travellers;  of  mariners;  of  the  shipwrecked; 
of  those  in  the  last  agony ;  of  the  souls  in  purgatory, 
Pray  for  vs. 

Our  Lady,  Prompt  Help  to  obtain  and  preserve 
charity ;  to  observe  the  law  of  God ;  to  obtain  con- 
trition and  perseverance  in  the  practice  of  good  works. 
Pray  for  us. 

Our  Lady,  Prompt  Help  in  the  conversion  of  sin- 


m  North  America. 


299 


ain  and  preserve 


conversion 


ners ;  in  tho  wants  of  the  soul ;  in  occasions  of  sin ;  in 
temptation ;  in  necessities  of  the  body ;  in  the  acci- 
dents of  life ;  in  conflagration ;  in  inundation ;  in  en- 
lightening unbelievers;  in  the  conversion  of  heretics, 
Pray  for  ns. 

Our  Lady,  Prompt  Help  against  impurity  ;  against 
the  revolt  of  the  will  from  God's  will ;  against  lightning 
aud  tempests ;  against  contagious  diseases ;  against  the 
Evil  One,  Pray  for  us. 

Oar  Lady,  Prompt  Help  of  the  people  of  New  Orleans; 
of  those  who  fight  in  defence  of  their  country ;  against 
our  enemies,  Pray  for  us. 

0  God,  who  beholdest  us  encompassed  on  all  sides 
by  dangers  and  miseries ;  grant  us  in  Thy  goodness 
that  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  Mother  of  God  Thy 
only  Son,  may  defend  us  from  tho  malignant  enemy, 
and  protect  us  against  all  adversity;  that  she  may 
ever,  by  prompt  help,  deliver  us  from  the  necessities 
of  body  and  soul,  and  with  her  powerful  hand  lead  us 
in  saft*"y  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  through,  etc' 

In  1823  these  noble  Ursulines  of  New  Orleans  were 
strengthened  by  a  colony  of  six  from  Old  Quebec 
again ;  and  in  1861  by  others  from  the  convent  of  St. 
Martin,  in  Ohio.  Let  us  move  that  way.  Up  from 
the  French  capital,  following  Marquette's  River  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception  to  the  Ohio,  first  known  to 
those  Jesuit  servants  of  Mary  who  died  beneath  the 

'  Find  this  Litany  printed  in  St.  John's  Manual.  Dunigan  & 
Bro.,  New  York,  1857,  p.  1130, 


300 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


IS' 


Ii'oquois  tomahawk  auJ  scalping-kuifo,  to  tho  cathedral 
towu  of  Ciucinuati;  and  theuce  back  into  tho  new 
country,  whore,  siuco  July  21,  iu  the  Octavo  of  Oui- 
Lady  of  Mount  Carmel,  1845,  thoy  have  boon  training 
souls  in  the  love  of  God  and  Mary. 

As  you  approach  it,  you  are  struck  with  the  features 
of  American  natura,!  beauty  which  surround  it :  wo 
once  heard  an  eloquent  guest  compare  it  to  the  Happy 
Valley  of  Rasselas,  a  valley  in,  but  not  of  the  world. 
We  would  rather  liken  it  to  the  mountain-top,  as  being 
more  isolated,  and  higher  up,  nearer  to  God  than  val- 
leys are  or  may  bo.  Mountain-top  or  valley,  however, 
this  place  is  like  a  result  of  the  traditional  recollectiou 
of  Eden.  The  broad  plains  covered  with  corn,  vine- 
yards, and  orchards,  or  lying  in  wide  sheets  of  dark 
green  meadow,  daisy-spotted  and  arabesqucd  bj 
brooks ;  the  stately,  calm  nobleness  of  ancient  forests, 
linden  and  oak  and  maple  and  locust ;  then  over  and 
through  all  this,  the  humming  of  bees  and  golden 
beetles  in  the  noon,  and  the  flashing  of  phosplioric 
fire-flies,  diamond-like  luminous  in  the  dusk ;  and  the 
constant,  varied  song  of  uuhunted  birds,  from  the 
pure,  sweet  whistle  of  the  golden  yellow-bird,  through 
robin  and  red-bird,  quail-pipe,  screech  of  blue-jay,  low 
coo  of  purple-throated  dove,  to  the  '  aried  utterance 
of  the  reddish  mocking-bird,  and  the  sweet,  rollicking 
song  of  the  bobolink,  rocking  on  a  mullen  top. 

First  you  see  the  little  church,  usually  with  half  a 
dozen  birds  upon  its  cross,  making  you  think  of  that 
Ecce  tnim  passer  invenit  domum,  etc.     Behold  the  spar- 


r-'i'-viviiriu-,  lit  ■ 


IN  North  America. 


801 


roio  hath  found  her  a  house,  and  the  tntiJe-dove  a  7ie,st 
where  she  may  lay  her  young,  even  Thine  altars,  0  Lord 
of  Hosts,  my  King  and  my  God.^  Then  yon  see  the 
presbytery  where  two  holy  priests,  Fathers  Gucon  and 
Cheymol  have,  like  their  Master,  been  '*  doinff  good" 
for  twenty  years;  and  then  yoii  see,  amid  the  trees, 
tlio  noble  Convent  of  the  devoted  daughters  of  St. 
Ursula. 

Another  colony  comes  to  Cleveland.  Their  bishop, 
Mgr.  Eappe,  receives  them  in  their  chapel  with  Bene- 
diction of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  the  first  time  there, 
on  the  feast  of  the  Virgin's  Assumption.  In  tho  Oc- 
tave of  the  Immaciilate  Conception,  their  chapel  re- 
ceived by  its  consecration  that  beautiful  title  as  its 
own.  On  the  festival  of  the  Annunciation,  tho  first 
Communion  of  the  pupils  took  place.  Go  further  north 
and  you  find  them  still ;  at  three  Ilivers,  at  tho  Saut 
Sainto  Marie,  children  these,  too,  of  the  antique  pio- 
neers of  Quebec.  And  these  of  the  North  now  count 
over  seventeen  thousand  pujuls,  ucted  in   more 

than  the  ordinary  branches,  some  ii:  tho  highest  of 
women's  studying  ;  best  of  all,  instructed  in  the  lore  of 
love  of  God,  and  devotion  to  the  Model  of  Christian 
women,  tho  stainless  and  gentle  Mary." 

But  we  must  retrace  our  way,  back  down  the  Father 
of  Waters,  to  what,  so  short  a  time  ago,  was  wilder- 
ness ;  to  far-off  Texas,  to  Galveston  and  San  Antonio. 


'  Pealra  Isxxiii.  3. 

'  Annales  de  i'Ordre  de  Sainte  Ursule,  ii.  550,  556. 


802 


Devohon  to  Tim  B.  V.  Mary 


■■^ 


Bister  Siiint  Ambrose  will  bo  our  fjjuidc'  From  Sontli- 
eni  France,  she — from  Auch,  in  diocpso  of  Tonlonsc. 
"Goo(T-bv,  fair  France!"  she  writes  from  Havre  ;  "faro- 
well,  my  good  Mother  Superior,  and  all  my  sisters. 
"We  confessed,  Ik  :ird  Mass,  and  received  the  Holy 
Communion  this  morning  at  Notre  I^anie.  Earnestly 
we  called  upon  IMary,  and  besought  her  to  ofTr'r  us  to 
her  Divine  Son  :  then,  at  her  feet,  wo  bade  adiiui  to  all 
whom  we  love.  Good-by,  till  heaven."  It  was  on  tlio 
eve  of  the  Annunciation  of  Our  Lady  that  they  sailed. 
On  the  Feast  of  her  Visitation  they  were  at  their  homo 
in  Galveston.  It  was  on  an  island,  she  tells  us,  flat, 
without  a  single  spring ;  they  drank  unfiltered  rain- 
water tlu.re,  as  in  Africa  and  elsewhere.  Thev  are  do- 
voured  by  mos(iuitos  ;  overrun  -with  sharp-l)iting  ants. 
The  convent  is  of  wood.  "Not  nmeh  of  a  palace," 
says  Sister  Saint  Ambrose,  "  but  finer  than  our  Lord's 
at  Bethh.'hem."  For  her  own  presidential  room,  she 
has  a  plank  hut,  a  shanty  in  the  garden ;  with  a  rough 
wooden  cross  made  by  herself,  and  below  it,  pasted  on 
the  wall,  iiiw  'jx'lilc  hnmje  de  Mark', — a  little  picture  of 
Mary. 

"  Send  lis  some  help,  good  mother,"  she  writes  to 
France ;  "  young  sisters,  in  good  health.  Make  them 
study  English  thoroughly,  without  going  before  the 
mirror  to  practise  the  th.  Preach  to  them  well. 
Promise  them,  that  if  they  come  here,  they  shall  have 
affliction,  privation,  liumiliation,  suffermg,  and  temp- 


Annales,  ii.  571,  608. 


IN  North  America. 


?,0'.i 


tiition  of  .'ill  sorts  and  'without  eiul,'"  Tlic  rrotcstaiit 
ininiHtcvs  [)roiieli  a  crusailo  aiJtainst  tliom  :  it  scuds  all 
tiio  curious  to  look  at  and  listen  to  tlicni.  Ministers 
mock  at  the  poverty  of  their  convent ;  it  sets  people 
thinking,  and  converts  como  in  by  the  dozen.  A  hur- 
ricane sweeps  away  Iho  r()f)f ;  the  rain-storm  that  fol- 
lows drenches  the  house.  "  Never  mind,"  says  Sister 
Saint  Andu'oso,  "wo  sail  in  the  good  ship,  'The  Divine 
Will,'  peac^efuUy  and  joyously,  and  are  confident  that 
Mary  will  bring  us  safe  to  port." 

After  a  little,  in  the  summer  Oi  1853,  the  acIIow  fever 
and  the  cholera  together  furnish  them  with  new  ex- 
poricmceH.  In  New  Orleans  two  thousand  persons 
perish  in  a  single  week :  the  dead-cart  rundJes  per- 
petually over  the  pavement.  In  Galveston  these 
plagues  decimate  the  population.  "  Lut  all  our  con- 
fidence is  in  Mary,  who  we  know  will  hel[)  us  to  keep 
ready  for  our  appearance  before  our  Lord."  Prayers 
are  ordered,  of  course,  by  Monseigneur  Odin.  To 
these  the  UrsulJnes  add  a  particular  devotion  to 
Mary.  In  the  Octave  of  Our  Lady's  Nativity  in  Sep- 
tember, almost  in  the  tropics,  a  severe  frost  sets  in  and 
the  terrible  scourges  are  checked.  "  No  doubt,"  says 
the  pious  sister,  "we  owe  this  favor  to  Blessed  Mary  ; 
therefore  we  intend  to  make  a  devotion  in  her  honor 
immediately,  at  once  to  recognize  her  kindness  in 
banishing  the  plagues,  and  to  beg  her  continuous  pro- 
tection for  our  community." 

There  were,  before  the  sickness,  seven  priests  and  a 
deacon  in  the  then  new  settlement ;  after  it,  there  re- 


304 


Devotion  to  tiik  B.  V.  Maiiy 


iimincd  hn^  ])vioHts.  This  wiih  Ootobor,  185!},  nnd  Sister 
Siiint  Aiiil)r()so  says,  "Wo  liopo  that  iMary  will  ))it'H(!rvo 
these  two.  In  our  Iiouho  wo  liave  not  had  a  .siii<^l() 
case,  ncitlK!!'  anion^  the  rcligiouK  nor  tlid  Hclioliir.s, 
The  true,  the  only  roason  for  this  in  the  'dovotion'  of 
which  I  have  spokou,  offurcd  by  the  couuuunity  uuto 
Mary." 


:^V 


FM*v 


TUE  VOW  OF  THE  GALVESTON   UUSULINES   TO  THE  IM- 
MACULATE  HEAUT  OF  MAUY, 

CONHKaiATINO  TIIKMSKKVKB  TO  IT  IN  OUATITDDK  FOll  TIIKIU  I'llIiS. 
EIIVATION  FlIOM  TIIK  HCOtlUOK  OK  1853,  AND  TO  AHHIIIK  TIIKM- 
fiKLVKS   A   CONTINUATION  OV  UEU  I.OVK.      OcTODKIl  I),    IH*);). 

"O  Mary,  Mother  of  God  and  our  Motlun-,  dci^'n  to 
look  upon  this  community  of  the  dan^htcu's  of  Saint 
Anj^ola,  who,  prostrate  before  thee,  render  thoo  their 
honiafTo  and  inqilore  thy  protection. 

"  llemembcr,  O  Mary,  that  the  Most  High  has  niatlo 
thee  the  dispenser  of  His  bounty ;  and  that  Ho  has 
only  made  thee  so  powerful,  so  rich,  and  so  good,  that 
thou  mayst  give  us  succor  in  our  wretchedness.  Thou 
seest  the  calamities  which  afflict  this  land ;  perhaps 
our  want  of  ardor  iu  thy  service  lias  been  tlio  only 
cause  of  them.  Help  us  now  worthily  to  re))air  ')ur 
forgetfulness  and  our  ingratitude.  Revenge  thyself, 
we  pray  thee ;  but  revenge  thyself,  O  tender  Mother, 
by  piercing  our  hearts  with  a  sword  of  love  for  thy 
dear  Son  and  thee.  Henceforth  we  wish  to  be  thy 
most  devoted  servants.  We  choose  thee  for  our 
Queen,  our  Mother,  our  Advocate,  and  our  Patroness. 


IN  NouTii  Amkuica. 


305 


To  tlioo  wo  (l(!(licuto  uiul  consoenito  onisclvuH,  ami  our 
couvciit,  and  tlio  lioaita  of  all  who  dwell  or  .slmll  dw»ll 
theroiu  forever.  (Jueeu  of  Vir^'ins,  dcinn  to  u('('('i)t 
tlio  i'Tovocablo  gift  of  ourHelv(!H,  which,  in  the;  sight 
of  heaven  and  earth,  wo  niako  to  th(!0  this  day.  And 
that  wo  may  obtain  thy  Htrong  protection  for  this  eou- 
vcnt,  which  is  now  thino  own,  wo  solenuily  engage — 

"  1.  To  dedicate  our  new  convent  and  its  churcli  to 
God,  under  tho  title  of  tho  Ininiaculato  Conception. 

"2.  To  make  a  nine  days'  devotion  before  each  of 
our  feasts. 

"3.  To  make  a  procession  in  tliy  honor  on  tho  feasts 
of  thy  Immaculate  Conception,  thy  Nativity,  thy  Au- 
uunciation,  and  Assumption. 

"  4.  On  each  of  these  days  to  causo  tho  Most  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  to  bo  olVerod  for  these  intentions. 

"  0,  our  dear  Mother,  crown  all  tho  kindness  thou 
hast  shown  us  by  tho  grace  of  a  holy  and  hiii)py  death, 
that  so,  one  day,  wo  may  all  ascend  to  hjvo  thee,  and 
to  bless  thee  forever  in  heaven.     Amen." ' 

The  Mother  Superior,  Sister  Saint  Jane  do  Chantal, 
read  this  vow  aloud  in  tho  presence  of  tho  Most 
Blessed  Sacrament  exposed.  A  young  girl,  whito- 
robed,  held  a  wax-light  near  hor.  "  We  sang  tho  hymn 
anJ  chorus  of  Our  Lady  of  Victories,  Sulre  Diuuc  des 
Vidoit'cs ;  then  tho  Superior,  in  the  name  and  by  the 
consent  of  all  tho  sisterhood,  pronounced  tho  vow  of 
consecration.     Then,  afterwards,  wo  sang  tho  hymn, 


'  Annales  do  I'Ordre  do  Saint  Ursulc,  ii.  505. 


306 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


I  am  llio  cliild  of  swcot  Mary, 

And  tliat  Mi)t'u!r  beloved  doth  bless  mo  eacli  day ; 
I  am  tlie  cliild  of  sweet  Alary, 

"lis  the  cry  of  my  heart,  'tis  my  chorus  alway. 

now  bl(.'si;  is  he,  0  teiulir  Mother, 
Who  in  thv  ranks  hath  chosen  his  part ! 

There  is  on  earth  no  bliss  more  i)erfect, 
Than  his  who  aiveB  to  thee  his  heart.' 


■t  '• 


"  Then  came  the  l\ivfvm  Ergo,  and,  after  the  bene- 
diction, the  Te  Deum.  Our  statue  of  the  Virgin  we 
Lad  decorated  witli  our  best  taste  and  power,  and  she 
seemed  to  us  more  gracious  than  ordinary." 

Fire  next ;  but  Mary  shows  her  tenderness  in  that ; 
and  thougli  tlio  buildings  be  of  pine,  and  the  cohnun 
of  flame  is  visible  from  ufor,  but  little  damage  is  done. 
The  Convent  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  grows 
rapidl}'  the  while.  Next  year  comes  the  fever.  "  The 
houses  around  us  are  all  draped  in  monrning :  our  con- 
vent alone  escapes  without  a  single  case."  Xi  the  cathe- 
dral, a  priest,  the  Abbe  Motz,  falls  victim.  "  Thanks  to 
onr  Mother  Mary,  so  good,  so  tender !  May  the  people 
here  learn  her  gentleness  and  love  her."  There  are 
more  hurricanes.     Once,  the  gulf  and  the  bay  threaten 

'  Je  suis  Tenfant  do  Marie, 

Et  ma  mere  clierie  me  benit  chaquc  jour; 
Je  suis  I'enfjint  de  Marie, 
C'est  le  cri  de  mon  easur,  c'est  raon  refrain  d'amour. 

Qu'il  est  heureux,  0  tendre  mere, 

Celui  qui  t'a  donne  son  coeurl 
Est-il  un  etat  sur  la  terre 

Qui  puisse  egal  sr  son  bonheur? 

— Gaiitiquc  a  Mam  ImmacuUe. 


iimwim  a^aaaatA- 


..TiS'^-' 


IN  North  AAfERicA. 


307 


\n  (I'amour. 


to  imito  tlioir  Avatcrs  and  submerge  tlio  islfuul.  Tho 
limo  takes  fire  aud  burns  away — four  liundred  dollars' 
worth.  A  hurricane  unroofs  the  town.  3[(ii-s,  31<i.rie 
voiis  a  proli'ije — But  Mary  protected  us.  Tho  other 
sisters  are  rather  busy,  but  "  I,"  Sistcsr  Saint  Ambrose, 
"  only  teach  French,  Avriting,  drawing,  einbroidery,  and 
a  Jhv  hours  of  classes!"  And  so  let  us  bid  farewell  to 
Sister  Saint  And)rosc  and  her  convent  of  +he  Immacu- 
late Conception, — safo  there  on  that  island,  with  the 
luoan  of  tho  American  Mediterranean  for  perpetual 
deep  basso  to  the  hymns  of  the  Ursnlinos. 

)Sail  now  along  the  gulf  where  the  coast  trends  south- 
ward and  westward,  till  you  reach  Kspirilu  Sanlo,  the 
Bay  ot  tho  Holy  Ghost.  Into  that  pour  two  streams ; 
the  larger  is  the  river  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe,  the 
second  is  Saint  Anthony's  river.  Tracing  t];e  latter 
up,  some  Inindred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  beach,  you 
will  come  to  its  head-waters  and  tho  am-ient  Span- 
ish town  and  new  Ursulino  convent  of  San  Antonio. 
Let  us  listen  to  an  extract  from  the  letters  of  Sister 
Saint  Joseph,  as  Motlier  Saint  Angela  reads  tliem 
aloud  to  the  community  in  far-off"  French  Brignolles. 

Country,  she  thinks,  rather  savage.  Our  cloister 
wall  consists  of  certain  stakes  set  in  the  earth  and 
connected  by  iron  wire.  Father  Dubois,  priest  of  the 
parish,  made  our  grand  gate.  Cattle  are  numerous,  a 
circumstance  unfavorable  to  sleep.  Besides  this,  hun- 
dreds of  wolves'  prowl  round  the  cabins  by  night,  and 


Ua)ie  ImmacuUe. 


'  Prairie  wolves,  coyotes. 


308 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


if  not  particiil.arly  dangerous,  arc  at  least  an  insuffei-- 
able  nuisance,  for  tliey  liowl  tlie  whole  nij^^ht  through. 
Any  lack  of  needful  peril  is  made  up  by  the  great 
abundance  of  rattlesnakes.  "  One  day  wo  found  a 
large  one  in  the  kitchen,  coiled  up  upon  a  plate." 
Sister  Saint  Joseph  begs  a  place  in  men's  memory  of 
the  animal  kingdom  at  San  Antonio  for  the  fleas.  Slio 
sajs  that  they  are  many ;  that  they  last  for  five 
mouths  each  season.  She  declines  to  commit  herself 
to  an}^  definite  census  of  them,  but  quotes  from  a 
letter  of  Father  Dul)uis.  "Even  now,  while  I  write  to 
3'^ou,  there  are  more  than  three  thousand  in  my  boots.'" 
These  are  the  amusements  at  San  Antonio :  for  the 
work  there  has  no  measurement  e>;  ept  the  capacities 
and  phj'sical  strength  of  each,  lor  consolation  and 
support  the}'  too  have  their  little  chapel  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception,  the  inner  joy  of  conformity  to 
God's  will,  the  assurance  of  Mary's  love  and  pro- 
tection. 

Let  that  noble  type  of  the  missionarj^  bishop,  Mgr. 
Odin,  tell  a  story  of  the  Convent  of  San  Antonio. 

"A  young  girl,  sixteen  years  of  age,  belonging  to  a 
Protestant  family,  after  having  spent  three  years  in 
the  Convent  of  San  Antonio,  and  often  expressed  the 
desire  of  receiving  baptism  and  becoming  a  CathoHc, 
concluded  that  if  she  returned  to  her  parents  she 
would  never  have  the  happiness  of  embracing  our  holy 

'  Annales,  ii.  G07. 


t.\ 


IN  North  America. 


809 


religion.  She  consequently  asked  her  fatlior  to  poi*- 
mit  lier  to  remain  some  time  longer  at  scliool.  Three 
days  after  n^ceiviug  the  permission  to  remain  she  fell 
ilL  From  the  first  she  declared  that  she  should  never 
got  hetter,  and  again  requested  to  be  baptized.  The 
Superior  recommended  her  to  wait  some  time  longer, 
hoping  that  she  would  bo  better ;  but  a  few  days  hav- 
ing elapsed,  she  said  to  the  Mother  Superior,  '  I  have 
only  a  few  mimites  to  live  ;  for  God's  sake  let  me  be 
baptized.'  The  priest  was  sent  for,  the  young  person 
received  the  sacrament  of  regeneration,  and  died  a  few 
hours  afterwards  in  the  most  sublime  sentiments  of 
piety. 

"  She  had  scarcely  been  buried  a  fortnight,  ere  the 
Protestant  newspapers  published  anonymous  letters, 
in  which  this  young  person's  death  was  questioned. 
Tliis  report  gained  credence  in  the  public  mind ;  it  was 
intimated  that  the  religious  had  shut  her  up  in  a 
dungeon,  in  order  to  force  her  ultimately  to  join  their 
community.  Between  three  and  four  months  after  the 
interment,  the  father  of  the  young  person,  accom- 
pcanied  by  several  Protectants,  presented  himself  at 
the  convent  to  verify  the  fact,  and  was  conducted  to 
the  tomb  whieh  contained  the  mortal  remains.  The 
gi'ave  was  opened,  then  the  coffin  :  the  deceased  was 
found  in  a  perfect  state  of  preservation,  and  even  more 
beautiful  than  on  the  day  of  her  death  ;  her  white  robe 
had  not  received  a  single  stain.  The  father  recogniz- 
ing her,  cried  out,  *  O  my  daughter !'  Then  he  wept 
bitterly,  and  uttered  no  word  of  complaint  against  the 


310 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


religious,  for  lie  was  convinced  that  those  good  sisters 
had  done  all  in  their  power  to  preserve  the  life  of  his 
child. 

•'  Some  time  after  this  event,  the  sister  sacristan, 
v/hile  cleaning  the  chapel,  found,  under  the  foot  of  the 
statue  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  a  charming  letter,  wliioli 
the  pious  girl  had  addressed  to  the  Queen  of  ^Xjigels, 
asking  of  her,  in  terms  of  admirable  simplicity,  to  ob- 
tain, from  her  Divine  Son,  for  the  writer,  the  grace  of 
not  dying  without  baptism.' 

"  t  John  Mary, 

"  Bitihop  of  Galveston." 


And  now,  with  a  fact  or  two  about  the  connection  of 
the  Ursuhnes  with  the  Devotion  to  the  Mother  of  God 
in  North  America,  we  will  say  good-by  to  those  noblo 
and  exemplary  ladies.  And  first :  their  distinct  mis- 
sion of  education  is  to  the  girls  and  young  women  of 
the  wealthier  classes.  They  always  have  schools  for 
poor  children  attached.  The  North  American  Ursu- 
lines,  or  rather  the  Ursulines  in  North  America,  for, 
with  a  few  English  exceptions,  they  are  chiefly  Frcncli, 
have  taught  love,  confidence,  and  hope  in  Christ, 
through  His  beloved  Mother,  to  more  than  thirty  tliou- 
sand  of  the  wealthier  persons  of  this  country.  Ah, 
what  may  that  not  efi'ect ;  thirty  thousand  seeds  som'D, 
of  respect  for  marriage,  of  maternal  duty,  of  honor  to 
authority,  of  reverence  to  Blessed  Mary,  of  love  of 


Annals  of  tlio  Propagation  of  tho  Faitli,  November.  1859. 


m  North  America 


311 


o-ootT  sisters 
lio  lifo  of  liis 


fovcmbor.  1859. 


God,  of  fear  of  sin,  of  love  of  virtue,  of  habitual  sclf- 
(jovernment,  raeanirg  thereby,  domination  of  one's  own 
individual  passions.  Ten  TJrsulines,  or  ten  of  their 
pupils  who  observe  and  keep  what  the  TJrsulines  teach 
them,  would  have  saved  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  Here 
there  are  eleven  houses  of  the  Order. 

To  conclude  this  chapter  let  us  borrow  an  article  or 
two  from  the  Constitutions. 

Article  I.  Devotion  to  the  Blessed  Mother  of  God 
being  earnestly  recommended  to  all  religious  com- 
munities, inasmuch  as  she  is  their  Lady  and  Mother, 
as  well  as  the  sole  perfect  model  of  the  life  which  they 
should  lead,  the  religious  of  this  Order  of  Saint  Ursula 
are  more  particularly  bounden  to  this  duty,  so  that  by 
her  intercession  and  especial  protection  they  may  labor 
more  fruitfully  to  form  Jesus  Christ  in  the  hearts  of 
young  girls,  and  to  instil  into  those  hearts  the  virtues 
of  Mary,  according  to  the  spirit  of  their  institute. 

Article  II.  Therefore,  in  every  convent,  the  Blessed 
Vhgin  Mary  shall  be  especially  chosen  for  first  and 
chief  Superior,  which  election  shall  be  thus  made  : 

Article  III.  On  the  day  appointed  by  proper  au- 
thority, all  the  religious  of  a  community  being  as- 
sembled in  chapel,  wherein  shall  be  placed  a  statue  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  holding  in  her  sacred  arms  the 
Infant  Jesus,  they  shall  invoke  the  Holy  Ghost,  by 
saying  or  singing  the  hymn  Veni  Creator  Sjnritus. 
Then  shall  follow  some  prayers  to  the  Mother  of  God, 
and  after  that  the  Mother  Superior  shall  place  the 
keys  of  the  convent  at  the  foot  of  the  statue,  and,  all 


312 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


kneeling,  she  shall  offer  her  charge  and  the  convent  to 
Our  Lady  by  some  devout  prayer.  Th^.n  the  Mother 
Superior  shall  render  homage  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  by 
kissing  the  feet  of  her  image,  and  all  the  sisters  shall 
do  so  in  turn,  passing  processionally,  and  singing  the 
Te  Dcum  laudamus. 

And  this,  with  what  is  already  recorded,'  is  a  faint 
sketch  of  what  the  Ursulines  have  to  do  with  Devotion 
to  Mary  in  North  America. 

'  See  tliifl  work,  pp.  33-47. 


m  North  Amemoa. 


313 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Various  Orders  of  Our  Lady — Piloriuaoes  to  Ocb  Lady  of  Peace, 
01  Mercy,  of  Ghack,  and  back  to  Ocb  La^t  of  Good  Help  in 
montbexl. 

It  is  to  be  understood  that  every  religious  order  is 
devoted  in  some  way  to  the  Blessed  Yirgin.  But  in 
our  extreme  dearth  of  material  we  can  only  signalize 
a  few  besides  those  already  given.  The  Ladies  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  are  too  well  known  to  need  any  descrip- 
tion. They  are  in  Oregon  and  New  Orleans,  in  New 
York  and  Missouri.  They  had,  in  1853,  twelve  estab- 
hshments  for  education  :  they  numbered  two  hundred 
religious  in  the  United  States.'  The  'Princess  Gallitzin, 
cousin  of  the  heroic  prince-priest  already  sketched,* 
was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  energetic  developers 
of  this  Order  in  North  America.  She  died  of  yellow 
fever  in  Louisiana  in  the  year  1843.  In  Canada  they 
have  forty-three  religious.  We  can  allude  to  only  one 
of  the  good  works  of  this  devout  order  of  women,  of 
which  the  influence  on  Devotion  to  Our  Lady  in  North 
America  is  most  evident,  and  by  which  their  zeal  for 
that  devotion  may  be  partially  estimated.    It  is  what 


'  Servantes  de  Dieu,  etc.,  pp.  92,  93, 
«  See  tliis  work,  p.  339. 
14 


314 


Devotion  to  THii  B.  V.  Mary 


f 


:-l^lh 


the  French  call  an  exfernal  association/  composed  of 
young  ladies  who  in  secular  society  retain  their  desire 
to  advance,  even  there,  the  cause  of  religion. 

It  is  called  "  Association  of  the  Children  of  Mary  iu 
the  "^.Vorld,"  and  is  composed,  in  the  first  instance,  of 
tlioso  who  have  been  educated  in  the  schools  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  under  l^e  superintendence  of  a  religious 
of  which  order  every  society  is  placed.  Any  other  per- 
son, however,  desirin^ij  to  share  lu  the  privileges  may 
be  admitted,  after  the  prescribed  tests  of  fitness  have 
been  made.  The  prin<*-ipal  object  of  the  members  is  to 
cherish  "  tender  love  for  the  D'vine  Heart  of  Josuii, 
modelling  their  love  upon  that  Avliich  Mary  bore  her 
adorable  Son.  They  meet  on  the  first  Saturday  of 
ewery  month  at  the  Convent  of  the  Sacred  Hcjirt, 
whore  they  listen  to  an  instruction,  after  having  as- 
sisted at  Mass  and  received  the  Sacraments  of  Pou- 
ance  and  the  Most  Holy  Eucharist.  Then  the  various 
labors  and  undertakings  of  the  several  members  are 
discussed.  "  Our  Society,"  one  writes  to  me  from  a 
metropohs,  "  is  large  and  flourishing.  Many  are  at- 
tracted to  it  by  t]:3  simjile  swc^otness  of  the  <itle, 
'  Children  of  M;i,ry,'  and,  inspired  bv  filial  \o\\.,  aim 
diligently  to  acquire  the  yirtues  which  should  cliarac- 
terize  the  rliildren  of  su'.'li  a  Motber.  You  may  ima- 
gine how  great  must  be  the  influence  of  ^uch  au 
association  ,  and  it  is  consoling  to  think  how,  more 
and  more,  ;u  our  community  hero,  tLis  influenco  in 


'  Congn'gations  externus. 


■P^iFrr^i—- TT".  '^^T-^  w  i««%i-i.  -. 


IN  North  America. 


315 


composed  nf 
a  their  desire 
ion. 

en  of  Mai-y  iu 
■st  instance,  of 
schools  of  the 
3  of  a  religious 
A.ny  other  por- 
privileges  may 
of  fitness  have 
)  members  is  to 
Elcart  of  Jesu;i, 
Mary  bore  her 
L-st  Saturday  of 
Sacred  Heart, 
iter  haviiig  as- 
L-aments  of  Vcn- 
:hen  the  various 
al  members  are 
,s  to  me  from  a 
Itlany  are  at- 
css  of   the  title, 
V  filial  I'w.,  aim 
I  should  charac- 
You  may  ima- 
nce   of    ^uch  au 
think  how,  more 
this  iuiluence  is 


extending  among  the  wealthier  and  more  educated 
classes  in  general  society,  removing  antipathies,  soft- 
ening prejudices,  and  gently  but  surely  instilling  Iho 
principles  of  Faith." 

Some  siich  external  association  is,  I  believe,  directed 
by  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  and  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Visit- 
ation. 

There  is,  then,  an  order  in  the  dioceses  of  Michigan 
and  Philadelphia,  elseAvhcro  pcrliaps,  who  are  called 
"  Servants  of  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary."  Their 
objects  are  the  instruction  o.*'  youtli ;  the  founding  of 
Catholic  schools ;  the  care,  if  necessary,  of  orphans ; 
the  instruction  of  young  girls  for  first  communion. 
Their  churches,  convents,  and  schools  are  all  placed 
under  the  immediate  protection  of  Our  Blessed  Im- 
maculate Mother.  Their  uniform  is  of  her  colors,  blue 
and  white ;  in  all  their  exercises  they  have  particuhir 
exercises  in  honor  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  ;  und 
in  honor  of  that  sacred  mystery  they  commence  even 
their  recreations  with  a  "  Hail  Mary."  ' 

There  is  no  end  to  the  variety  of  titles  under  which 
the  devotees  of  Mary  seek  to  express  their  love  for 
Onr  de.ir  Lady.  Some  choose  for  especial  devotion 
that  grand  Mystery  of  her  preparation  to  bring  forth 
the  Redeemer  of  the  woi'ld,  called  the  Immaculate 
Conception  ,  others  choose  the  Visitation,  and  find  the 
sauctification  of  children  to  be  their  distinct  work  in 
this  world.     Some  coll  themselves  Lorettines,  in  rever- 


Letter  of  Rev.  M.  Callaert,  October  18,  1861 


t    %  ■ ,-. 


816 


Devotion  to  the  B.  Y.  Mahy 


enco  of  lliat  particnilar  La(ly-(;liap(>l.  Some  honor  cs- 
pocially  Our  Lady  of  tlio  Pn^sonlafion,  and  tluiso  all 
take,  in  religion,  the  namo  of  Mary.  Ono  Society  is 
called  "  Sisturn  of  tlio  Holy  Names  of  Jkkus  and 
Mary  ;"  another  is  the  "  Community  of  Onr  Lady  of 
Charity  of  the  Good  Shepherd" — of  Him  Avho  said, 
**  As  a  shepherd  seeketh  out  his  flock,  so  will  I  seek 
out  my  sheep  and  will  deliver  them  out  of  all  places 
wherein  they  were  scatteied  in  the  dark  and  cloudy 
day.  I  will  seek  that  which  was  lost,  and  bring  again 
that  which  was  drivcMi  away,  and  will  bind  up  that 
which  was  broken,  and  will  strengthen  that  which  was 
sick.  And  I  will  make  with  them  a  covenant  of  peace, 
and  will  cause  the  evil  beasts  to  cease  out  of  the  land ; 
and  they  shall  dwell  safely  in  the  wilderness  ;  tlioy 
shall  sleep  even  in  the  woods.  For  yo,  My  flock,  the 
flock  of  My  pasture,  aro  men,  and  I  am  your  God, 
saith  the  liord  God."  ' 

This  is  the  community,  the  first  idea  whereof  sprang 
from  a  brave  woman  of  the  working  classes,  iNfadelaine 
I'Amy ;  but  the  first  who  put  on  the  habit  and  pro- 
nounced the  vows,  was  a  child  of  ono  of  the  haugh- 
tiest and  most  ancient  houses  of  Normandy,  Madcmoi- 


'  Sicut  vlsitat  pastor  grogcm  punm,  sic  visitabo  ovcs  moas,  et  lihe- 
rabo  eas  de  omtiihus  locis  in  quibtis  dippersre  fiierunt  in  dio  nubis  et 
caliginis.  Quod  periorot  rf'nuiriuii,  ci,  quod  iilijoctuni  erat  redticain, 
et  quod  confriictura  fuorat  iilligiibo  ct  ()und  inliniiiini  fiiorat  consoli- 
dabo.  Et  fiiriiiiu  cum  cis  ])ai'tuin  pni'is,  rt  cpssiiri-  faciain  liewtins  pes- 
Blnias  de  terra  et  qui  Iml^itant  in  dcserto,  swini  dormicut  in  siiltibus. 
Vos  autem  groges  mei,  grngcs  pascna^  racrB  liomincs  entity,  et  ego  Doiiii- 
nuB  Deus  vester  dicit  Dominus  Dcus. — Ezecliiel,  xxxiv.  11, 13,  IG,  25, 31. 


IN  North  America. 


317 


sello  de  Taillcfov.  Now  nearly  ('i(ihf  Inmdird  of  thoao 
ilevoted  women  are  laboring  to  reolahu  their  ruined 
sisters.  "  We  are  touched,"  it  has  been  said  by  a 
certain  writer,  "  wo  are  touched  by  the  dcrotion  of 
those  chaste  spouses  of  Christ,  who  have  conseeratod 
themselves  to  education ;  of  those  who  deny  them- 
selves the  supreme  joy  of  motherhood,  to  become 
mothers  and  servants  of  the  orphan  poor.  Wo  ven- 
erate those  who  have  made  themselves,  for  God's  sake, 
tiie  iusejiarablo  companions  of  contagion  and  infec- 
tion ;  breathing,  as  it  were  by  predilection,  tlie  putrid 
miasms  of  the  hospital ;  cleansing  the  loathsome  ulcer, 
bi  .ding  up  the  bleeding  wound,  sustaining  feebleness, 
waiohing  over  idiocy  or  madness. 

"But  wliat  shall  wo  think  of  those  religious  who 
choc  0  for  their  daily  companions  the  most  degraded 
of  their  sex,  so  as  to  win  those  poor  lost  sheep  back  to 
the  flock  and  fold  of  God  ?  Wliat  shall  we  say  of  Vir- 
tue going  to  look  for  Vice,  of  Modesty  searching  oiit 
Ribaldry,  overcoming  tho  mere  instincts  of  respecta- 
bility to  save  one  brand  from  the  burning,  one  immor- 
tal soul  from  hell,  for  the  love  of  that  eternal  King 
who  died  for  us  all  ?  All !  in  the  insufferable  wickp ' 
mockery  of  that  noblest  of  E  ,Hs^i  words,  'loyalty,'  in 
the  midst  of  those  tloods  of  trash  which  men  dare  to 
ciill,  now-a-days,  by  that  pure  and  Christian  and 
beautiful  name,  liow  encouraging  to  him  who  has  eyes 
and  who  looks  out  of  them,  to  see  one  set  of  holy 
women,  if  that  were  all,  loyal  in  its  only  sense,  loyal  to 
their  King !" 


318 


Devotion  to  tite  B.  V.  IVlAnY 


I  do  not  know  wliotlicr  it  bo  a  rulo  of  tln'R  Ordor  or 
not,  but  T  obHtn-vo,  in  lool<in^  over  tho  lists  of  tlir(>o  or 
four  iustitutiona,  tiuit  nil  of  the  religious  are  named 
Mary.  Tliey  have  been  in  tlio  United  States,  so  fur  as 
I  can  discover,  since  1812. 

The  Ladies  of  Loretto  arc  also  all  called  Mary ;  juid 
I  beg  my  readers  particularly  to  note  these  littlo 
points.  It  in  the  fifraiv  which  shows  how  the  wind 
blows;  in  breeze,  or  gale,  or  tornado  the  clay-bmik 
stand;^  stupidly  steadfast.  So  many  of  these  Domini- 
cans,  Lorettines,  Good  Shepherds,  Trapi)ists,  Carmel- 
ites, are  all  called  Mary,  and  only  intell(>etual  obesity 
can  be  dull  to  the  influence  of  a  name.  The  Lorettines 
spoken  of  above  come  from  Dalk(y'  Abbey  in  Treliuid, 
but  the  institute  originated  in  Bavaria  among  the  loyal 
British  exiles  who  had  taken  refuge  there  in  the  last 
struggle  of  the  Stuart.  In  North  America,  sinc(!  181;', 
they  are  discoverable;  by  mo  only  in  Toronto  and  at 
Niagara  Falls.  At  the  former  place  their  convent  is 
Icnown  as  Our  Lady  of  Loretto,  at  the  Falls  it  is  Our 
Lady  of  Peace.  The  grand  cataract  itself  has  been 
consecrated  by  his  lordship  Doctor  Lynch  to  tlu; 
Blessed  Virgin  of  Peace,'  and  the  Holy  Fatluu'  lias 
been  pleased  to  grant  the  privileges  of  pilgrimage  to 
this  convent. 

He  gi-ants  a  plenary  indulgence  to  those  wdio,  after 
the  usual  preparation,   shall  receive   the  IMost  Holy 


Vr,; 


L\ 


'  Kind  and  courteous  letter  from  V.  B,  Mr.  Nortligravr  t,  Octolxr, 
1861. 


IN  NOIITH  AmKIUCA. 


319 


rottitnuTii'on  and  prny  in  tlio  churcli  for  "  tlio  oononrd 

of  Christ iiin  j)rinoos,  tho  poacoful  trintiipli  of  Onv  Holy 

Motlu^r  tlio  Clmrdi,  i]u)  extirpation  of  licrcH}-,  and  tlio 

convorsion  of   siniu'rH."      "Pius,  PP.  IX.,  for  ovor- 

Instiuf^  memory  of  tlio  fact : — It  has  boon  sliown  Uh  by 

our  vonorablo   brother  John    Lynch,  now  Bishop   of 

Toronto,  that  ho  intends  to  cHtablish  a  pil,t.',rinia^('  to 

tho  Church  of  tho  Blessed  Vir^^in,  called  Our  Fjady  of 

Poaco,   situated    within   his   diocesi^   at   tin;    Falls   of 

Ni!ijj;ai'a.     Wo  havo  granted,  therefore,  to  the  pilgrims 

milking  this  pilgrimage  the  indulgtmces  attached  to 

tlio  proscril)(>d  and  annexcnl  prayers." '     It  Avas  on  tho 

Sunday  within  tho  Octavo  of  Our  Lady's  Ascension 

that  tho  church  was  dedicated.     Hundreds  of  })ilgrims, 

after  hearing  Mass  in  tho  city  of  Toronto,  proceeded 

by  steamer  and  railway  to  tho  shrine.     And  when  they 

Cftino  back,  at  least  upon  tho  steamer,  they  chanted, 

with  tho  sublime,  perp(!tual  voice  of  tho  cataract  for 

basso,  tho  Vespers  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.     After  which 

all  knelt,  A/ith  their  faces  towards  Toronto,  in  adoi-a- 

tion  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  thanking  the  Piedeemcr, 

tlicro  present,  for  their  preservation  from  all  casualties 


Northgravt  s  October, 


'  Pius  P.  P.  IX.  ad  porpotuain  roi  niomoriam.  Exiwniudiuu  nobis 
nupercnravit  Vcncrabilis  Frator  Joannos  Lynch  hodierims  Episcc^piis 
Toruntiniw  sibi  in  r.-.titno  csso  Instituere  pacrnm  porcijrinntionini  ad 
I'CcleKiam  Beata'  Maiia?  Virginia,  cui  ncinicn  a  Pace,  sitani  ad  pvieci- 
Tiitca  lapsus  aquaiuni  loci  "  Niagara"  ipii  noniinatur,  dii^tai  dia'Ci'sis. 
Enixns  ideo  preccs  Nobis  ndmovit  ut  pro  fiddibuH  pnrfatani  sacram 
pcrcjrrinationi  ni,  poraji:entibus  ca'lcstea  indulf,rrntianini  tlu'sauros  de 
bciiignitato  Ncwtra  rescrare  dignaronms."— die  1  -Martii,  M1JCCC!LXI 
Pontificatus  nostri  anno  decinio  luiuto. 


320 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


during  that,   the   first    pilgrimage    to  Our  Lady  of 
Peace. 

And  now  from  Our  Lady  of  Peace,  riding  down  the 
sliore  and  past  tlio  toAver  where  swing  the  intor- 
wreathed  crosses  of  Saint  Andrew  and  Saint  George, 
wo  may  cross  the  bridge  and  stand,  in  view  of  tlie  star- 
spangled  banner,  near  Our  Lady  of  the  Cataract  and 
the  Seminary  of  Our  Latly  of  Angels.  Nf.>t  to  delay, 
but  to  hurry  eastward,  by  a  little  south,  through  the 
land  of  the  old  L'oquois  Missions,  of  Jogues  and  Goii- 
pil's  martyrdom,  of  Tegahlcouita's  and  Garacontie's 
birth ;  past  Saint  Mary's  church  at  Medina,  the  Na- 
tivity of  the  Blessed  Virgin  at  Brockport,  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  at  Rochester,  the  Assumption  at  Syra- 
cuse, the  Visitation  at  Saratoga,  to  the  handsome 
Gothic  heights  of  the  Cathedral  of  the  Lnmaculate 
Conception  in  Albany,  once  the  metropolis  of  antique 
Dutchmen. 

Then  down  the  grand  Hudson,  through  the  flat  lauds 
which  won  the  Batavian  heart  so  many  years  ago, 
through  the  majestic  Highlands,  over  the  sparkling 
river,  We  toiich  our  hats  as  we  pass  Saint  Mary's  of 
Hudson,  Saugertias,  Poughkeepsie,  and  New  Ham- 
burg ;  Our  Lady  of  Loretto  at  Cold  Spring ;  Lnmacu- 
late Conception  at  Port  Jervis  ;  Our  Lady  of  Mercy  at 
Portchester ;  Immaculate  Conception  at  Melrose ;  the 
Church  of  the  Madonna  at  Fort  Lee ;  and  then,  laud- 
ing at  Hoboken,  within  sight  of  the  tall  commandiug 
pile  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  in  Jersey  City, 
across  Harsimus  Bay,  we  linger  in  Hoboken  to  say  a 


Tpnr— TirnifHmrgfflTKTs  ■  ■  - 


IN  NoHTn  AsnjRiCA. 


32] 


prayer  or  twain  at  the  slirinos  of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy 
and  Our  Lady  of  Grace  in  Hobokon. 

"WHaile  the  cisergetic  and  devoted  Father  Cauvin  was 
l)uiMiiig  the  churcli  of  Our  Lady  of  Mcrcj',  a  pioiis 
layman  was  providing  an  altar-piece  in  Piome.  It  was 
an  accident,  a  chance,  a  providence,  which  you  will. 
Br^  the  facts  are  these.  When  Father  Cauvin  wrote 
to  his  friend  and  protector,  Cardinal  Brignole,  for  an 
I'jtar-picco,  he  received  an  immediate  reply.  Some 
Haio  I'cfore,  the  Signer  Paci-Ippoliti  had  caused  a 
ca]\y  of  the  Madonna  dclla  Miserirordia  of  Rimini  to  be 
made,  and  had  begged  the  cardinal  to  present  it  to 
some  American  mission.  Mr.  Caiiviu's  letter  followed 
eloHoly  on  this,  and  AVcst  Iloboken  received  the  pic- 
ture. It  gave  to  the  church  its  title,  as  you  may  see, 
if  yon  like,  above  the  gKsat  door,  where  the  inscription 
rrtads  thus : 


MATER  MISERICORDI^. 

Mother  of  Grace,  0  Mary,  hoar  I 
Mother  of  Mercy,  lend  thine  car  I 
From  raging  foes  our  souls  defon  , 
And  take  us  when  our  life  shall  end. 


The  dedication  of  the  churcli  was  a  solemn  one  :  the 
preacher  was  His  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  New  York, 
and  a  large  attendance  of  clergy  and  devout  laity 
thronged  the  aisles.  The  pj.inting,  covered  with  a 
curtain,  was  above  the  altar,  and  when  it  was  with- 
drawn, and  thr.  Ave  3Iaria  rang  forth  from  the  choir, 
all  foil  upon  ^iieir  knees  and  joined  in  that  beautiful 


w 


322 


Detotion  to  itte  D.  v.  Mary 


m 


■■*: 


prayer  to  Our  Lady  of  Mercy.'  But  the  greatest 
honor  paid  to  her  was  that  which  came  across  the  sea 
from  Italy — the  fervently  faithful  devoti'«u  of  the  truly 
Italian  Catholic  heart  of  Signor  Ippoliti,  Eix-ju  the 
moment  he  was  told  that  his  picture  had  fouiKl  its 
mission-homo,  he  wrote  to  Father  Cauvin  that  lie  be- 
gan to  place  unlimited  confidence  in  Our  LaJy  of 
Mercy,  through  the  prayers  of  the  devout  pt'ojJo  of 
the  parish.  And  then  he  tells  how,  on  the  thiiiierJiof 
January,  1853,  he  was  engaged  in  certain  expori;f>t  ut.s 
with  gunpowder.  He  thought,  Jinpj'x'ned  to  thijik,  he 
says,  of  the  church  in  Hobokcn,  and  recomincrdo.i 
himself  particularly  to  the  care  of  Our  Lady  as  vener- 
ated there,  just  as  he  entered  the  r.irrr.n-  ;->r.d  cLivo 
room  which  was  the  scene  of  his  pxpe;'.i:ie};':s. 

He  had  a  very  largo  .i[r.inli1y  of  po-vd<:v  th-^ro,  \difii 
he  went  in,  "  giving  himself  up  to  Mary  with  the  auw- 
filial  confidence  as  a  child's,  when  it  throws  itself  into 
its  mother's  arms."*  In  a  few  moments  the  whole  in- 
flammable mass  had  exploded  about  his  head  and  face, 
The  windows  and  doors  of  the  room  were  shattered  tu 
pieces,  the  whole  house  was  shaken,  but,  as  ho  sa}.;, 
"  by  the  mercy  of  God  .n.nd  his  blessed  Mother,"  the 
servant  of  Mary  was  uninjured.  The  same  year,  ui 
gi'atitude  for  his  preservation,  ho  leaves  a  foundation 
in  perpcfnum  to  the  church  of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy, 
"When  tlio  Passionist  Fathers  were  sent  there  by  the 

'  Courrier  des  Etats-Unis,  November  27,  1853 ;  Freeman's  Journal, 
same  date. 
»  Letter  from  Signor  Ippoliti,  Augutit,  1853 


(^-6ai!BflSB?^\?rwr^%F.T-^^Sia"_':at".^^^     - 


IN  North  America. 


323 


1853 ;  Freeman's  Journal, 


Ordinary,  Father  Cauvin  resigned  Lis  pastorate  to 
them,  and  moving  eastward  into  the  midst  of  the  town, 
founded  there  the  church  of  Our  Lady  of  Grace. 

There  the  pilgrim,  for  these  are  all  pilgriiL  .ges,  will 
find  an  exquisitely  fine  copy  of  that  Madonna  of 
Rafael's  which  is  known  as  del  Foligno;  that  oue 
where  you  seo  Our  Lady,  with  her  divine  eternal  Son 
in  her  arris,  surround^id  by  cherubic  heads  of  extreme 
finish  and  beauty.  Below  stand  or  kneel  Saint  John 
the  Baptist,  Saint  Aagustine,  Saint  Benedict,  and  Saint 
Francis  of  Assisium.  In  the  centre  a  cherub  holds  an 
uniuscribed  tabltt.  This  is  the  grand  picture,  the 
altar-piece  as  we  may  say,  of  the  Cliurch  of  Our  Lady 
of  Grace ;  and  outside,  over  the  great  door,  is  set  a 
tablet  bearing  this  inscription : 

GRATIARUM   VIRGINI. 

And  here  the  pilgrims  are  frequent  and  numerous. 
Some  thirty  ex  votos,  in  gratitude  for  graces,  cures,  or 
conversions  obtained  by  her  intercession,  already  hang 
at  the  altar  of  the  Sacred  Patroness.  What  is  said  to 
be  a  relic  of  her  veil  is  piously  preserved  in  the  church, 
and  the  Papal  benediction  is  by  especial  permission 
imparted  each  year  on  the  feast  of  the  Bosary. 

His  lordship  the  Bishop  of  New  Jersey  testified  his 
veneration  for  the  shrine  by  solemnly  croAvuing  the 
picture ;  hoping,  by  that  act  of  honor  and  veneration 
to  our  blessed  Lady,  to  increase  the  devotion  of  the 
faithful  to  the  Mother  of  Grace,  and  to  consecrate  a 
shrine  full  of  invitation  to  the  needy  and  the  sorrowful. 


324 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mart 


There  is  a  large  number  of  pictures  of  unusual  merit 
in  the  church,  notably,  those  of  Our  Lady  of  Grace 
(del  Fulignoj,  Our  Lady  of  Sorrow..,  -nd  Our  Ladv  of 
the  Rosary.  An  immense  assemblage  attended  to  do 
honor  to  the  sacred  Lady  of  the  day,  and  one  among 
them,  Madame  Pychowski,  sang  this  hymn  in  honor  of 
the  festival : 


i 


m 


Mother  dearest,  mother  fairest, 
Virgin  brightest,  purest,  rarest, 

Lady  inilil  and  Bweet ; 
Hear  the  grateful  songa  we  sing  thee, 
Hear  the  hymns  we  humbly  bring  thee, 

Bending  at  thy  feet ! 

Gate  of  Heaven,  Star  of  Morning ! 
Lo,  the  votive  gifts  adorning 

This,  thy  favored  shrine  1 
All  the  wondrous  story  telling. 
Of  thy  mercy  with  us  dwelling, 

M  jther  of  Grace  divine  I 

In  our  need  upon  thee  calling, 

Thou  hast  saved  from  death  appalling. 

Heard  thy  children's  prayer  ; 
Heard  our  cry  amid  the  dashing 
Of  life's  waves,  our  frail  barks  lashing, 

Granting  us  thy  care  I 

Mother-arm,  thy  Son  infolding, 
Mother-heart,  witiiin  thine  holding 

All  who  turn  to  thee ; — 
Still  thy  kind  protection  lending. 
Let  thy  love  on  us  descending. 

Our  sweet  comfort  be  1 


While  our  souls  to  thee  uy)lift)ng, 
W'e  seek  peace  unild  the  drifting, 
Darkening  storms  of  earth. 


m  North  America. 


325 


f  unusual  merit 
Lady  of  Grace 
ad  Our  Lady  of 
3  attended  to  do 
,  and  one  aniouf^ 
lymn  in  lienor  of 


Humblost  Virgin  I  Queen  of  Heaven ! 
Unto  thee  bo  honor  given, 
Honor  due  thy  worth  I 

Joyfully  this  gi*'t  wo  proflfcr. 
Humbly  this  fair  crown  wo  offer, 

Deign  on  us  to  smile  I 
Mother  of  Grace,  with  heart's  o'erflowing, 
Tims  our  grateful  love  we're  showing — 

Bending  low  the  wliilo  I 

Ages  past  have  known  thy  glory, 
Mighty  kings  and  prophets  hoary 

Sung  thy  starry  crcwn  I 
Blessings,  honors,  clear  foretelling, 
Lauding  thee  as  all  excelling, 

Shadowing  forth  thy  throne  I 

Israel  in  thee  r(!Joic(>s, 
Salem  lifts  her  myriad  voices, 

Quivering  with  t'ly  love  1 
Queen  of  Angels !  Bride  of  Heaven  I 
Mediatrix  to  us  given ! 

Undefilcd  dove  I 

East  and  Wjet  unite  to  praise  thee, 

North  and  South  their  hymns  still  raise  thee. 

Blessed  in  every  land  I 
Hosts  angelic  join  with  mortals, 
Far  within  the  stairy  portals, 

Where  the  seraphs  stand  1 — 

TYhere  amid  the  wide  creation, 
Holding  foremost  rank  and  station, 

Christ's  dear  Mother's  seen. 
List  the  glorious  strains  ascending. 
Heaven  and  Earth,  their  voices  blending, 

Hail  tliee.  Crowned  Queen  I 

Sweep  northward    again,  to    our  venerable    early 
tneixd,  Our  Lady  of  Good  Help.     This  ends  the  pil- 


32G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  Y.  Mary 


grimagcs  known  to  us  on  this  continent,  as  it  bcfj 


an 


tlicm 


It  is  with  a  document  of  remarliable  clovotiou 
to  Mary  that  we  close  this  chapter.  It  is  the  pastoral 
of  Monseigneur  Bourget,  bishop  of  Montreal. 


PASTORAL 
Op  MoNSKTGNKtm  the  Bisiior  of  Montreal,  to  encouraoe  the 

PILOKIMAOE  OK  NoTUE  DaME  PE  BoN  SKCOURS,  AND  TO  ESTAIiUSH 
IN   THAT   ClIAPEL  THE   CoNKRATEliNlTY   OF  OUll  LADY  OF  GoOD 

Help  fou  tue  whole  Diocese, 


% 


■^i 


>B 


Ignaco  Bourget,  by  the  mercy  of  God  and  the  favor 
of  the  Holy  Apostolic  See,  Bishop  of  Montreal,  etc., 
etc.,  etc. 

To  the  Clergy,  secular  and  regular,  to  the  Beligious 
Communities,  and  to  all  the  Faithful  of  our  Diocese, 
Health  and  Benediction  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

You  have  not  forgotten,  dearest  brethren,  that  on 
the  thirteenth  of  last  August  we  publicly  bound  our- 
selves by  vow  to  do  our  utmost  to  re-establish  the 
pious  Pilgrimage  of  Our  Lady  of  Good  He  p,  wliicli, 
by  our  indiffereiice  and  tiie  evil  of  the  times,  had 
ceased  to  be  frequented  as  it  once  was. 

In  making  this  vow  we  sought  to  erect  a  barrier 
against  the  terrible  epidemic  which  was  making  fright- 
ful ravages  at  the  gates  of  our  city,  and  which  every 
day  overleaped  the  limits  within  which  men  strove  to 
keep  it,  to  smite  its  victims  in  the  very  heart  of  the 
town.  In  this  we  only  imitated  the  good  example  of 
our  fathers,  for  whom  this  holy  chapel  was,  from  im- 


mt,  fts  it  began 
rliiiblo  devotiou 
t  is  tlie  pastoral 
(utrcal. 


IN  North  America. 


327 


,  TO  EKCOURAOE  THE 
[IS,  ANU  TO  ESTABLTSn 

Oou  Lady  of  Good 


r,  to  the  Eeligious 
rtl  of  oxir  Diocese, 

Jesiis  Clirist. 

brctlircn,  that  on 
ublicly  bouud  our- 
to  re-esta'olisli  tlie 
Good  Ho  p,  wliicli, 

of   tlie   times,  liad 

van. 

to  erect  a  barrier 
was  maldng  friglit- 
ty,  and  wbicli  every 
liicb  men  strove  to 
,0  very  beart  of  tk 
le  good  example  oi 
.apel  was,  from  im- 


memorial time,   a  certain  refuge   in   great  calamity. 
Pa  Ires  nMii  narravcrvnt  nohis.^ 

Wc  had  long  groanixl  in  secret  to  see  tl)e  vonorablo 
Chapel  of  Good  Help  almost  deserted.  AA^'e  could  al- 
most apply  to  it  the  words  wherewith  Jeremiah  ex- 
pressed the  just  grief  wliieh  ovorwliolmed  him  when  he 
saw  the  holy  temple  abandoned  and  the  august  solom- 
nitics  neglected :  "  The  ways  of  Zion  do  mourn,  be- 
cause there  are  none  who  come  to  her  solemn  festi- 
vals.'" 

In  fact,  wo  no  longer  saw,  as  in  our  fathers'  days, 
crowtls  of  pious  pilgrims,  moving  in  the  evening  w^en 
the  toils  of  the  day  were  done,  towards  the  clu  risluMl 
sanctuary  to  thank  our  august  Lady  of  Good  PEolp  for 
the  graces  obtained  by  her  mighty  int(U'cession,  and  to 
ask  for  new  ones.     Except  during  low  Mass,  non(>  W(H'o 
seen  there  at  praj'cr  dui'ing  the  day ;  so  tliat  it  be- 
came necessary  to  kei^ii  the  doors  closed,  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  sacrilegious  thefts  committed  ther(>.     But  this 
state  of  abandonment  had  something  in  it  sinister  to 
ou'  eyes.    Without  wishing  to  examine  too  closely  the 
secret  judgments  of  God,  it  seemed  to  us  tliat  sucli  an 
indifference  must,   sooner   or   later,   draw  misfortune 
upon  us.     History  and  our  own  recollections  inspired 
us  witli  just  fear.     You   yourselves  know  the   groat 
calamities  wnich  desolated  this  city  and  country  after 


'  Our  fathers  have  told  ua.  -Psalm  xliii.  1. 

'  Vifo  Zi(in  liigont  co  quod  noii  siu*  qui  veniant  ad  soleuiuitutem.— 
Umentations,  i.  4.  ' 


328 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


1 1*- . 


the  fire  of  1754,  wliicli  reduced  to  ashes  the  second 
chiipf  ■  of  Bo)'  Sec-  iirs.  You  have  not  forgotten  thiit, 
in  18C1.,  u  |tr«)iuij )  mud  c.iiried  ofi  the  statue  so  vene- 
rate'' b^  '.>i'r  :  hers,  and  which  had  escaped  the  dev- 
astating ,i.i,mes.  Ml,  since  that  day,  how  many  ills 
have  come  upon  us ! 

The  terrible  pohtieal  agitations  which  shed  the  blood 
of  citizens  in  the  streets  of  the  city  on  the  21st  of  May, 
1832  ;  the  dreadful  cholera  which  appeared  on  the  8tli 
of  June  of  the  same  year  and  decimated  our  pojinla- 
tion ;  the  same  epidemic  which  returned  in  1^'M, 
spreading  everywhere  dosohition  and  death ;  tlic 
troubles  of  1837  and  '38,  which  caused  so  many  tears 
to  flow,  and  covered  the  land  with  sorrow  and  ruin; 
the  millions  of  insects  which  for  so  many  years  have 
desolated  our  country',  and  ruined  the  commerce  of  tlio 
city  with  the  liopes  of  llio  husbandman ;  all  these  arc 
too  near  you,  have  left  too  profound  traces  to  be  for- 
gotten yet.  Finally,  last  year,  we  were  exposed  to  a 
new  plague,  which  threatened  at  every  moment  to  in- 
vade both  country  and  town.'  Those  whom  duty  car- 
ried to  the  field  of  that  aflliction,  to  relieve  that 
wretchedness,  were  nearly  all  attacked  by  the  discasi, 
and  many  fell.  But  we  desire  not  to  reopen  your 
wounds,  still  bleeding,  by  recalling  your  sufferings  aiul 
your  misfortimes.  Occupied  solely  with  the  means  (if 
p,ppeasing  Heaven,  and  of  preserving  you  from  the  ills 
which  have  fallen  upon  j'our  clergy  and  the  religious 


•  The  ship-fever  of  1847. 


riT  J^oRTH  America. 


329 


les  the  second 


c '.  nuniii'js,  we  were  struck  with  +he  thought  that  Our 
l.iuly  of  Good  Help  so  compassionate  towards  our 
fatlicrs  in  all  tJieir  misfortunes,  would  have  pity  ujion 
us,  and  obtain  fo^;  us  grace  and  mercy.  Tben  we  made 
a  vow,  at  first  in  our  own  secret  heart ;  then  in  the 
presence  of  this  diocese  we  formed  the  solemn  engage- 
ment to  do  what  in  our  power  lay  to  restore  to  the 
pilgrimage  of  Bon  Seconrs  all  its  solemnity.  We  need 
not  tell  you  here  that  Mary  heard  the  vow  and  granted 
our  prayer.  How  ccnild  she  do  otherwise  when  she 
beheld  herself  surrounded,  as  aforetime,  by  a  multitude 
of  devout  jv  rvants  ;  when  she  heard  her  sanctuary  re- 
eclioing  with  plaint  and  moan ;  when,  throughout  the 
whole  Octave  of  her  glorious  Assumption,  the  throngs 
of  sad  pilgrims  crowded  the  venerable  shrine  ? 

By  hearing  our  prayer  thus  in  her  Chapel  of  Good 
Help,  Mary  has  caused  us  to  know  that  to-day,  as  long 
ago,  she  wishes  to  bo  especially  honored  in  this  tem- 
ple; that  this  sanctuary  must  be  for  us,  as  for  our 
fathers,  an  asylum  in  great  calamities ;  that  this  chapel 
was  indeed  the  throne  from  which  she  bestowed  her 
pity  in  those  terrible  days  when  the  hand  of  rigorous 
justice  lay  heavy  upon  us  poor  children  '  '  Adam.  It 
is  then  at  the  close  of  such  favors,  at  the  end  of  the 
mouth  all  consecrated  to  her  honor,  that  we  undertake 
to  perform  a  duty  so  agreeable  to  our  heart,  and  dic- 
tated, moreover,  by  a  vivid  gratitude.  We  would  be 
the  most  ungrateful  of  men,  indeed,  and  our  tongue 
should  cleave  to  the  roof  of  our  mouth,  if  we  were  to 
forget  that  we  owe  to  your  fervent  prayers  in  the 


330 


DEVonoN  TO  THE  B.  V.  Mauy 


■-,f 


cliapol  of  Bon  SecouvH  tlio  health  wo  enjoy  to-ilay. 
May  wo  coiiHccrato  it  wholly  to  the  glory  of  IMary  ami 
tlio  HaiK'tilleation  of  your  souls  ! 

Wo  exhort  you  then,  brethren,  to  make  oficn  aiiil 
with  devotion  the  pious  pilgrimage  of  Our  Ladj  of 
Good  Help.     It  is  for  the  greater  honor  of  IMaiy,  the 
greater  good  of  your  souls,  and  the  acquittal  of  our 
conscience   that  we   invito  you   to  lift  up  your  ojes 
towards  that  place  from  whenco  we  may  exj)ect  sinli 
powerful  aid.     For  wo  are  convinced  that  this  chapel 
is  one  of  those  privileged  spots  whej'c  God  is  ploasiil 
to  show  His  great  mercy  through  tlie  intercession  of 
iMary.     .     .     .     This  pilgrimage  commeaced  willi  tlid 
settlement  of  the  country.     Three  churches  have  ri.sin 
from  the  corner-stone  laid  in  1G57,  despite  the  many 
misfortunes  of    our  country';   proof    that  our  fathers 
felt  keenly  the  need  of  such  a  sanctuary.     On  its  front 
is  carved  the  august  name  of  Mary,  and  the  heart's 
gratitude  rather   than  the  workman's  chisel  has  en- 
graved her  sacred  monogram.     It  is  there  to  say  to 
the  ages  to  come  that  Montreal  in  its  greatest  calami- 
ties must  never  lack  confidence  in  that  powerful  name. 
Maria,   0  noincn   siih  quo   iiint'ud  (hspcrarnhim  est  (St, 
Augustine).     You  read  over  the  doorway  the  simple 
and  noble  inscription,  Maria,  auxHium  Chridianonm, 
Mary,  help  of  Christians.     That  was  our  fathers'  crv 
of  confidence   in   all  the  trials  wherewith  it  pleased 
Divine  Providence  to  visit  them ;  such  was  their  sole 
resource  when  total  ruin  threatened  them.     Eeud  it,  0 
Montreal,  with  joy  and  happiness;  for  thy  destinies 


IN  NOTlTn  AMEniCA. 


331 


fvro  gro.tt,  if  thy  confiJrnco  in  Mary  corrospoiul  to  tho 
(xpoctiition  of  thorn  tlitit  fouiiclecl  theo.  Make  thyself 
worthy  to  tako  a<:;ain,  and  to  wear  forcvor,  tho  gh)riovi8 
uiimc  of  ■Vilij:-Mauie. 

That  nothing  may  bo  wanting  to  tho  holy  chapel  of 
Good  Help,  that  may  win  yoxir  confidonco,  wo  propose 
to  estahlLsh  the  pious  confraternity  of  Our  Lady  of 
Good  Help  in  that  venerable  parish,  and  ho])e  that  all 
tho  parishes  of  this  diocese  will  unite  with  it.  By 
sncli  an  institution  wo  shall  erect  a  durable  monument 
to  the  piety  of  our  fjithers,  for  when  they  formed  tho 
gcuerous  resolution  of  coming  to  the  New  "World,  and 
there  to  found  in  honor  of  tlie  Blessed  Mary  the  city 
wherein  we  dwell,  they  formed  an  association  which 
they  called  "  Society  of  Our  liady  of  Montreal  for  the 
conversion  of  the  Indians."  Now,  in  place  of  a  hand- 
ful of  associates  enrolled  to  pray  for  the  conversion 
and  civilization  of  the  red-man,  we  trust  that  thousands 
will  gather  beneath  the  glorious  standard  of  Our  Lady 
of  Good  Help,  to  implore  her  mighty  intercession  for 
the  destruction  of  error  and  vice,  more  particularly  of 
diuukenuess  and  im})urity,  which  ruin  body  and  soul, 
and  render  their  victims  wretched  both  in  time  and  in 
eternity. 

Ouco  tho  pious  region  of  Chartres'  saw  one  hundred 
and  nine  churches  or  chapels  dedicated  to  Mary,  and 
all  springing  from  the  famous  church  of  Notre  Dame 
do  Chartres.    So  many  monuments  proved  that  the 


'  See  for  Cliartres  and  its  connection  with  our  Missions,  pp. 


332 


Detotion  to  the  B.  v.  Mary 


I''  .J 


voneviiMo  town  waH  inilecd,  iiB  in  name,  tlio  city  ut  ;iio 
BltiHHocl  Virgin.  Its  logcud  is  Qmu  est  Caniuhnnium 
tuh'la  ?  Ilkiria,  dialer  Gvntitv,  3f(if(;>'  31m,rtvot'diu'} 
Long  ago  a  writer  said  that  "  all  Clmrtros  roHoundtKl 
with  tho  name  of  Mary ;" '  and  we,  bound  to  tliat 
antique  shrine  by  ancient  association  oi  jiraycrs,  uill 
follow  its  example  and  participate  in  its  privilog(;s  by 
moans  of  our  new  confraternity.  For  each  parocliial 
society  will  be  a  living  church  issuing  from  the  motbei- 
church  of  Good  Help.  All,  brethren,  believe  me,  tlioio 
can  never  bo  too  many  sanctuaries  for  prayer  aud 
expiation,  nor  too  many  shelters  for  virtue  aud  poui- 
tence.  Then  let  us  strive  to  preserve  fresh  on  our  city 
and  diocese  tho  stamp  of  religion  imprinted  by  two 
hundred  years  of  faith  and  piety. 

And  now  to  preserve  the  precious  souvenirs  which 
should  attach  you  to  Our  Lady  of  Good  Help.  Wo 
purpose,  on  the  twenty-first  of  this  month  (May),  to 
erect  a  statue  which  shall  replace  that  which  a  sacri- 
legious hand  stole  from  the  shrine  in  1831.  May  it, 
like  the  ancient  one,'  be  the  instrument  of  Mavy's 
mercy.  It  has  been  solemnly  blessed  at  Noti'c  Dame 
des  Vidoircs  in  Paris,  that  sanctuary  whence  flow  so 
many  graces  to  water  all  the  lands.  Let  us  trust  then 
that  it  is  filled  with  heavenly  benediction,  given  it  at 
the  altar  of   the  Holy  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary, 


'  Who  is  the  guardian  of  ChartrcB?    Mary,  Mother  of  Qraco 
Mother  of  Mercy. 
*  Carnutum  ubi  omnia  Marlam  sonant. 
'  For  description,  see  this  work,  p.  217. 


M^ 


IN  NoiiTii  America. 


3:J3 


IH   SOUVGllllSl 


l^owofful  to  aid  poor  HiniuaM  luid  lift  tliciii  from  ihoir 
wiotc'liocliu'Hs.  To  I'ciidcr  ii  still  dunrcr  to  your  hcurts 
nnil  Worthier  of  your  conlidi'iuu),  wo  sliull  crown  it 
with  all  that  soleniu  j)onip  of  eorcinony  ol)H(!rvcd  iu 
Homo,  whuro  aro  pointed  out  to  tho  csptu-ial  devotion 
of  tho  puoplo  such  sacred  iniag(!S  of  the  Ijlesstid  Vir- 
gin as  God  has  pleased  to  nudvo  the  instrument  of  Hin 
gracious  favor.  Our  gratitude  forl)ids  us  to  forgot 
how,  last  year,  tho  supplications  otl'ered  in  tho  clu^iol 
of  Our  Lady  of  Good  Help  delivered  both  town  and 
country  from  tho  terrible  i)estilenco.  In  the  same  view 
wo  shall  place  in  the  chapel  a  painting  rc^presenting 
tho  glorious  Virgin  Mary  arresting  tho  typhus  at  tho 
gates  of  this  her  city. 

0  people  of  Montreal,  who  possess  in  your  midst  so 
veuerablo  a  sanctuary,  visit  it  assiduously ;  go  hoar  a 
Mass  there  on  your  way  to  your  daily  occupations ; 
stop  there  and  give  thanks  for  a  moment  when  the 
labors  of  tho  day  shall  bo  ended ;  never  pass  it  without 
saluting  Mary.  Road  the  now  inscription  above  tho 
doorway  and  obey  it. 


Motlior  of  Grace  and 


"  Si  I'amour  de  Marie 
En  ton  ca>ur  est  f^rave, 
En  passant,  no  t'oublio 
De  lui  dire  un  Ave." 

i'ause,  if  tho  love  of  Mary 
Be  graven  on  thy  heart, 

And  breathe  one  fervent  A'je 
Ere  thou  depart. 


Go  thither,  ye  dwellers  in  tlio  peaceful  country, 


334 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maky 


Hfe 


"4 


■  1 


wlioii  duty  calls  yoii  into  town.  Rliow  your  noods 
with  filial  contiilciufo  to  Our  Jijuly  of  (lood  lldj). 
Rooonniu'ud  your  occiipiition.s  to  Uvv  vij^ilanro.  JU'g 
of  hor  tho  grace  of  going  iionu^  witli  an  iiiisullicd  iniio- 
conco.  Your  niarla^t  is  undi'r  tlui  vy^'H,  as  it  were,  of 
Mary,  Ilclp  of  (■lirislians.  Kcu^i)  strictly,  then,  tlio 
laws  of   soLricty,  justice,  and   piety.     Then    hack 


111 


oil 


peace  to  your  ])leasant  lioines,^ — anil  may  noiu;  (  f  y 
be  met  drunk  njx)!!  the  road. 

Thitlu>r,  ye  piims  mariners  and  boatmen  who  risk 
your  lives  on  that  vast  strivim  which  rolls  majestically 
at  (he  foot  of  Our  Lady  of  (lood  Ibdj),  as  if  to  invito 
you  to  seek  her  shrine  before  you  quit  tlm  harhor, 
after  you  cuter  it  in  safety.  Look  lovingly  on  Iho 
sacred  chapel  each  time  you  pass  it.  Tn  danger  rc- 
g:ird  that  Star  of  tlu^   Si-a,  and  call  on  IkJary  "/Axy 


iliV. 


Shlh 


(1)11 


rocit 


M 


(inidii. 


'oi'  ^()u  IS  1 


t  tl 


lal  wt( 


placi) 

upon  the  riv(M"-front  of  the  shrine  a  .statue.  Inscrihed 
ov(>r  the  head  you  .shall  read:  '■'  MafUniopolis  'I'lilcld, 
Protectress  of  Villc-Marie;"  and  at  the  ieo.t/\I*iisn('rii)il 
me  cnstodcDi,  they  have  made  mo  their  gnardian."  S(> 
shall  we  show  to  the  future  that  ^bii'v  is  the  Palioiuss 
and  ]\b>ther  of  "Montreal,  city  and  dioc<>se.  These  dcnli- 
shall  till  us  with  conlidi'iice  in  her  hel[).  These  sli,,!'. 
make  us  lov(^  Ikm'  shrine,  and  f>'t>(jnont  it  with  <;rc;i( 
dovot 


ion. 


'  (Jidnil  (lilfcht   tiihrfiKici/lit    litii;  shtnlc 


X  I '/•//// 1 


pviJiS  iKistri  111  (ifri'i's  h/is.  How  lovely  is  th_\  dwelling'- 
plaoo ;  our  feet  shall  tread  iu  the  coiirts  of  tliiuo 
abode." 


Therefore,  with  the  consentient  advice  of  our  vouor- 


IN   NOUTJI   AMKUlf'A. 


33r) 


)W  your  iitHids 
)f  Oooel  Help. 
n<^il!iiH'o.     JU'p; 

iinsiiHictl  iiiiio- 
H,  iis  il  were,  of 
iftly,  ilitui,  iho 

Tlu'ii  l)ark  in 
lay  iioiu!  (  f  }(>ii 

iitnu'U  Nvlio  risk 
oils  iii;iji'stii':illy 
p,  as  il'  it)  invito 
piit,  till!  liarbor, 
loviii|^ly  on  tlio 
III  »laii;j;('i'  ro- 
il Mary  "//r,sy//Vi! 
it  Uiai  \v»!  placo 
:iiuc.     TnscriluHl 


tihh  canons,  an<l  in  iho  most  lioly  iiamo  of  find,  wo 
onloi",  that  tho  twenty-fourth  of  INFay  he  kept  as  'I'ilu- 
I.ii  Fcnist  of  Our  Tiaily  of  (lood  Help,  willi  Octavo: 
tliat  tho  F(!ast  of  our  Lady's  Assumption  Ix;  th«! 
patioiial  festival:  that,  l)y  Jinliilt  of  the  Sovensi;^!! 
rontilV,  th(!  C'on  fraternity  of  Our  Lady  of  Ihlp  Ix'  and 
romaiu  ostahlished.  Wo  jiuthorizt!  tho  Siilpician  <'ler>j;y 
to  establish  such  olll(u>,  and  (!Xorcis<!S  for  tli(!  chapel 
and  for  iho.  ])il^rinia<4(i  thithoi'ward,  as  tla^y  decun 
iiiei't.     In  recitation  or  cliantin;^  of  tho  Tiitaiiv  of  tho 


lilcsscd    A'irLMn,    i\\o    invocation    "An.ril 


I II  in 


('/ir!.^l!ii- 


vnrinii 


iivs  o 


shall  l»o  thric(i  said   or  suii;^'.     W(!  grant  forty 
f   indukfeiico-    to  all   who  sav   with   confidenc(\ 


iiihi,   iiil'l'- 


ico  of  our  veuer- 


^^Miti'lii,  Aiixlliinn  (Hiii.s/iniioriiiii,  o/vf  iirn  /ni/i 
vnil  pro  cJi'ii),  ^lary,  Help  of  Christians,  piay  for  tho 
pcopki,  inteictHlo  for  their  chirgy."  These  ari;  tho 
words  which  form  tho  insciiptioii  of  tho  chapi'l  ;  they 
avo  writttui  on  tlui  hast!  ui  tho  statue;  th<^\'  ai(!  to  ho 
tho  expression  of  trust,  tho  rallying  cry  of  Our  l^ady 
of  Good  Help 

Such,  iNIary,  aro  tho  measiii'cis  which  wo  venture  to 
take  to-day  to  h<;nor  tliei;  in  tho  good  oM  chapel  of 
]h)r  Scconrs.  It  is  littlo  for  theo  who  hast  merited 
such  honors  from  earth  and  Iloav(  ii ;  still,  deign  to 
i)lcss  and  to  acc(!pt  tliom.  And  now,  O  Dhissed  ]\rary, 
be  phiusod  from  thy  sanctuary  to  watch  ovtr  this  city 
nnd  this  dioc(;so.  They  belong  to  thee,  they  have 
been  particulai'ly  eonsocratiul  to  the<'.  i'leiuember 
that  />o/i  ScroHTfi  in  tho  first  shrine;  of  this  town  which 
^n  Our  youth  heard  Our  supjilications,  and  that  thou 


Jk^T^ 


336 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


hast  clioseu  Us  to  govern,  imcler  tliy  protection  and 
guidance,  this  diocese.  The  work  done  here  is  thine 
not  Ours.  And  as  we  see  the  risk  of  losing  our- 
selves and  the  dear  flock  to  Us  intrusted,  Ave  cry  to 
thee  and  say,  "Vitani  prccsfa  piiram:  iter  para  Intum, 
Give  us  purity  and  innocence  of  life  :  sliow  us  tlio 
road  of  perfection."  Let  not  so  m-ri-ny  souls,  to 
Us  intrusted,  perish  by  neglect  or  inoxporieuce  of 
Ours.  But  obtain  that  we  may  all  find  Ourselves  to- 
gether in  that  Eternal  Temple,  there  forever  to  cou- 
template  Jesus,  thy  divine  Son,  and  to  rejoice  with 
thee  evermore. 

"Mgnatius,  Bishop  of  Montreah 


I 


tA-'f 


Guess,  then,  pious  reader,  how  the  hearts  of  our  dear 
old  friends,  Marguerite  Bourgeoys,  and  her  Congre- 
gation of  Notre  Dame,  must  have  rejoiced  at  the  read- 
ing of  this  pastoral.  On  that  same  twenty-fourth  of 
May,  the  whole  Community  of  Sisters,  novices,  and 
pupils,  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  ancient  shrine,  and 
there  solemnly  renewed  their  consecration  to  Mary  of 
Good  Help.  As  a  symbol  of  their  devotion,  they 
offered  to  her  a  heart  wrought  in  silver.  It  was  borue, 
upon  a  cushion  of  blue  silk,  by  the  president  of  tlie 
Children  of  Mary,  and  four  little  girls  held  ribbons,  as 
you  see  the  banner-cords  held  in  the  procession.  The 
five  were  the  representatives  of  the  Children,  while  the 
Mother  kjuperior,  her  assistant,  and  the  misiress  of  the 
novices,  renewed  their  self-offering  in  the  name  of  all 
the  religious.     The  heart  was  placed  in  the  bishop's) 


Iahy 

J  protection  and 
ne  liere  is  thine, 
of  losing  our- 
iistecl,  we  cry  to 
Uci'  para  intum. 
e :   sliow   \is  tlio 
mii,uy   souls,  to 
inexperience  of 
inel  Ourselves  to- 
6  forever  to  cou- 
d  to  rejoice  with 


IN  North  America. 


337 


hands,  and  he,  after  celebrating  High  Mass  and  mak- 
ing them  a  paternal  address,  presented  their  humble 
offering  to  that  good  and  gentle  Mother,  to  whom 
nothing  is  small  if  only  offered  in  love. 
X  15 


op  of  Montreal. 

hearts  of  our  dear 

and  her  Cougre- 

joiced  at  the  rcad- 

twenty-foiirth  of 
;ers,  novices,  and 
,ncieut  shvino,  uud 
;ration  to  Mary  of 
ir  devotion,  they 
lev.     It  was  borue, 

president  of  tlie 
Is  held  ribbons,  as 

procession.    The 

Ihildreu,  while  the 
the  mistress  of  tlio 
in  the  name  of  all 
ed  in  the  bishop's 


338 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


(,«' 


Gille-Maiki  nan  (Uel. — Malik  Teba  Wanbanakki  A^namuae, 

Before  returning  to  tlio  United  States,  by  way  of 
tracing  the  course  of  our  devotion  by  missionary  men, 
le^j  us  pass  ^'oni  Montreal  out  to  Aricliat  and  Antij.;o- 
nisli,  where  the  wild  Hebrideau  dwells  by  his  native 
sea.  The  sea,  at  least,  his ;  free  as  himself ;  his  own 
sea ;  because  it  is  God's,  because  BcanvaicJife  Main  is 
its  Star ;  and  because  he  is  God's  and  Mary's,  rrniii 
the  land  to  which  lona  belongs ;  where  the  so-callud 
Protestants  still  bless  themselves  with  the  simi  of  tlie 
Cross,  and  take  off  their  bonnets  and  say  a  jn-uyer  in 
the  ancient  churchyard  of  Saint  Columba  and  Saint 
Aidan,  on  All  Souls'  Day. 

NoAV,  in  the  diocese  of  Aricliat  alone,  which  forms 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia, 
about  tlurtv-tive  thousand  Hi'ddand  Catholics  have 
found  a  new  st'a-kissed,  sea-nurtured  home.  On  those, 
some  Indian  Missions,  containing  fifteen  hundred  sav- 
ages, so  called,  depend.  They  can  abide  togecher,  for 
with  both,  silence  amid  torture  is  a  native  quality,  he 
it  good  or  bad.  They  have  no  poets  Avho  sing  perpet- 
ually of  their  wrongs ;  no  political  orators  to  "  hawk 
their  sores  through  the  world."  They  suffer  and  re- 
memb  r.  Tlie  sword  of  their  indomitable  spirit  never 
left  their  hand  till  1745,  wlien  both  blade  and  clutched 


IN  North  AjfEmcA. 


339 


AKKI  Ax.NAl£UAK. 


hand  were  cntalicd  by  the  united  power  of  Snxon  and 
Sontlicru  Colt.  From  the  misty  isles,  and  from  the 
straths,  glens,  and  mountains  of  Inveruosshire,  Eoss, 
and  Argylesliiro,  come  nearly  all  of  this  silent  High- 
land folk.  From  Lochaber,  synonjmn  for  an  exile's 
Mail ;  from  Glengarry  and  Arisaig,  from  Knoydart, 
and  Morar,  and  Stradthglas  ;  from  the  wave-beaten 
isl(!S  of  Eigg  and  Kanua  and  Uist.  When  tlie  unfor- 
tunate apostas}^  of  many  of  the  chiefs  was  knoAvn,  it 
became  the  choice  of  tlicse  clansmen  to  renounce  alle- 
giance either  to  Him  who  had  given  them  those  chiefs, 
or  to  them  who  were  His  repres(>ntatives. 

They  hesitated  long,  and  they  suirer(>d  bitterly,  but 
tliey  chose  the  God  of  their  chiefs'  fathers,  and  of  tlieir 
own ;  "  they  preferred,"  says  a  venerable  bisho]"),  one 
of  themselves,  "  the}-  preferred  expatriation,  exile,  and 
perpetual  banishment  from  their  hills  and  glens.  lou- 
der the  protection  of  Heaven,  and  with  filial  invocntion 
of  the  sacred  name  of  Mary,  they  connnitt*.  d  ihem- 
selves  to  the  wild  ocean.'  Led  by  God's  hand,  they 
reached  Prince  Edward's  Island  and  Upper  Canada, 
and  now  tlie  Scottish  Highland  Catholic  population  of 
the  North  American  provinces  surpasses  one  hundrt 
thousand."  xV  single  diocese,  Arichat,  nund)ers  twe  ity 
priests  of  the  CJanne  nan  Gael.  Inwards  of  the  brine- 
nursed  strand  of  that  sea,  their  count  will  lie  some 
thirty  or  forty  more.     The  counties  of  Glengarry  and 


'  Letter  from  bia  lordfihip,  Rt.  llov.  Colin  Francis  Muckinnon,  bishop 
of  Aricbat. 


.  :^V<>.^ULi«M«blkMM*HMiWMiM«MilM 


840 


Devotion  to  B.  V.  Mary 


Stormont  on  the  Saint  Lawrence,  are  all  Catholic  Gaol, 
and  from  some  one  of  these  came  the  crook  used  in  ono 
of  his  latest  ministrations  hy  the  venerable  A.  M.  i.  do. 
Charbonnel,  nmqnhile  Bishop  of  Toronto. 

When  King  1\.  ort  the  Bruce,  indomitable  after 
thirteen  defeats,  met  his  crisis  and  his  crown  on  Ban- 
nockburn,  this  cro(jk  first  threw  its  silver  light  outsitlo 
of  the  Abbey  of  Aberdeen.  It  was  of  chased  silver, 
and  incl()S(>d  the  bono  of  the  right  arm  of  St.  Aidaii, 
monk  of  lona  and  abbot  of  Lindisfarne.  It  was  on  tlio 
feast  of  Saint  John  the  Baptist,  1313,  "  Avhen  Kiug 
Robert  drew  his  army  nyi  about  a  moat  and  ordered 
that  all  should  confess  their  sins  and  receive  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  And  then  Mauritius,  abbot  of 
Aberdeen,  said  Mass  for  the  king  and  his  chief  nobles  ; 
and  bishoi^s  and  priests  celebrated  throughout  the 
army.  Tlien,  after  the  king's  exhortation,  as  the  En- 
glish army  came  near,  "  the  whole  Scots  army  fell 
down  upon  their  knees  to  recommcuid  themselves  io 
God,  and  the  holy  abbot  adv.  .need  with  the  cross 
erected  like  a  banner"  and  blessed  tlu  m  as  they  knelt. 
And  after  that  they  fought ;  and,  at  the  concnision  of 
the  battle,  King  Robert  ''  divided  the  great  s})oil  and 
ransom-money  among  his  army,  except  the  cloths  of 
gold  and  silver  which  were  in  Kin^.;  Edward's  and  the 
English  noblemen's  tents,  which  the  king  caused  to 
be  given  to  the  churches  for  altar  cloths  and  other 
necessary  ornaments."  ' 


'  Davivi  Scot's  History  of  Scotland.     Westminster,  folio,  1728,  pp. 
187, 188. 


IN  North  America. 


341 


clotlis  and  otlior 


ninster,  folio,  1728,  pp. 


This  cross  or  crook,  of  solid  silver  elaborately 
carved,  having  on  one  side  a  pi'ecioiis  stono  and  on 
the  other  an  Qff\gy  of  tho  Redeemer,  was  in  the  he- 
reditary custody  of  the  Maenabs,  by  them  intrusted  to 
the  Maclndoirs,  tlieir  standard-bearers,  and  by  the 
last  of  these  was  brought  to  Canada,  where,  with  the 
letters  and  charters  of  James  the  Second  (of  Scotland), 
it  is  now  preserved  in  the  tOAvnshii)  of  Macnab  on  the 
Ottawa. 

The  first,  five  Inindrod  in  number,  came  with  their 
good  priest  Angus  INtacdonald,  in  178G.  Later,  the 
heroic  Hon.  and  Rt.  Ilev.  Bisliop  Macdonnell,  •  lio  Lad 
raised  for  the  crown  a  regiment  of  his  Catholic  clans- 
men and  others,  and  had  served  them  as  chaplain, 
led  them,  when  their  wars  wore  over,  to  tho  shores  of 
the  broad  Saint  Lawrence  and  dwelt  among  them,  and 
now  rests  from  his  labors  in  the  shadow  of  the  Kings- 
ton cathedral. 

Ten  years  later,  tho  Hebrid(\ans  set  sail  from  Kanna, 
and  Muiek,  and  Ronin,  and  the  shelter  of  towering 
Scaur-Eigg  :  from  tho  shadow  of  sacred  lona^  from 
Mull  and  wild  Tireo  ;  from  Uist  and  Skyc,  of  gray 
mists, 

From  Ulva  dark  and  TolonsnT 
And  all  i]w.  fjjroiip  of  islands  frav 
That  guard  famed  Statfa  round.' 

Hither  they  came,  these  servants  of  God  and  children 
of  Mary,  with  their  utter  impossibility  of  enduxing  a 

'  The  Lord  of  the  Isles. 


342 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mahy 


sp}' ;  Mi'th  tlu'ir  niarrow-Lrcd  loathing  of  inforniovs ; 
witli  ihv'w  tlionsiuicl-your-old  incapacity  for  servility  : 
liitlu'i  to  1)0  free  to  ailoro  the  Sacred  Trinity,  and  to 
worship  tcnd(M'ly  tho  Mother  of  Einniannel,  after  tlio 
rij^es  of  their  fathers.  Macleod  and  his  "yellow  stick'" 
disregarded ;  their  beloved  mcmntain  land,  witli  its 
passionate  seas,  resigned  ;  for  God's  sake,  they  crossed 
the  am'wj  mhor,  the  "  great  ferry,"  the  Atlantic,  nnd 
songht  new  homes  for  themselves.  Always,  however, 
without  asking  sympathy,  without  com})laint,  still  reso- 
lute, unsung,  iinnuntioued  in  speeclies,  their  d(M'p  woes 
known  to  tlKur  God  and  to  them  ;  known  and  reineni- 
hcred  by  both. 

"  Wlieii  my  forefathers,"  says  tho  grandson  of  one 
of  theso  men,  "  loft  Eigg,  in  company  with  iinniy 
fi'ionds,  they  took  lands  in  a  part  of  the  province  of 
Nova  Scotia  (the  name  of  it  was  akin  to  what  was 
closest  to  their  hearts),  calhnl  Capo  d'Or,*  ou  the  buy 
of  Fundv.  Here  thcv  labored  hard  for  eleven  veiiis, 
until,  like  i]\v,  Acadians,  by  industry  and  perse- 
voranc(\  tlu^y  had  ccmverted  tho  primeval  forest  of 
that  wihi  country  into  nourishing  fields  and  vcrduiit 
lawns. 

"  They  were  beginning  to  bo  very  happy,  in  ;i  tem- 
poral point  of  view :  but  they  had  neithtn-  prii'st  nor 
church  to  console  them  in  the  land  of  their  pilgrimage, 


'  This  chief,  after  forsaking  the  ancient  religion,  ('onvertwl  some  of 
his  ancient  clansmen  by  the  argument  of  his  cane.  Hel)ii(ii'an  Pro- 
testants have  been  ever  since,  and  are  now  called  "  Protectants  of  the 
YeUow  Stick." 


TN  No./rn  America. 


343 


i^;ioil,cnnV(Ttr(lsoraenf 
lis  can.v  llc.l.n.lrunPrn. 
ailed  •'  Prutcf5tuuts  of  the 


and  all  the  siirroumliii^  country  wus  gottinj^  rnpidly 
occupied  l)y  Protcstiints.  Tlio  oini^vaiitH  saw  the 
iminimiit  danj^or  to  \vhich  tluiir  chiKlicii  Avould  bo  ox- 
posed  of  losiii<j;  tluiiv  fuitli,  if  tlioy  romaincd  wlun-o  tluiy 
were.  To  what  purpose,  thoy  askod  t(3arfully,  liavo  we 
ahuudoued  our  nutivo  liills  and  glens  in  ancirmt  Mor- 
veu,  the  honios  of  our  (\itliolic  aueestors,  if  "\ve  aro  to 
become  Protestants  hei\)  in  the  \Yild(U'ness?  No,  wo 
must  move  again  and  OiMwuiit  ourselves  to  tho  kind 
protection  of  Hch^nvw.  Vlid't^r  the  guidance  of  tiro 
geutlc  Star  of  the  S*>a,  our  deur  INIother,  wo.  will  seek 
utlier  lauds,  where  we  hopo  that,  in  time,  Provid(Ui(M) 
will  enable  us  to  iwir  our  children  in  the  faith  of  their 
fathers  ;  in  t)to  pr.icticos  and  teachings  of  the  Catholic 
Clmroli. 

"C^^iie  aged  matron,  Mary  Machtod  her  name,  a 
mether  in  that  Celtic  Israel,  was  especially  impatient. 
She  constantly  repeated  to  lier  sons  and  daughters 
that  there  were  lauds  to  the  eastward.  '  Tluu'o,'  she 
said,  'w(!  niiiy  hud  ii  hiijipy  hon?e.  There  wo  shall  be- 
ijdiue  a  numerous  piogeny.  Ther?  we  shall  raise  the 
Civis  nil  Criofid/i,  tho  Cross  of  (!hrist ;  and  un^ler  the 
pah'onage  of  tho  Mother  of  God,  in  years  to  come, 
there  shall  rise  from  our  descendants,  those  who  sh.all 
be  the  spiritual  rulei's  and  guides  of  our  people.'  Tho 
venerable  woman  spake  sooth.  Of  her  descendants, 
five  are  priests,  and  one,  the  child  of  her  daughter 
Una,  is  the  bishop,  the  spiritual  ruler  of  tlio  Gael  in 
Aiicliat,  Antigonish,  and  Cape  Br(^ton." 
All  the  Catholics  of  the  old  colony  left  it  and  settled 


34-1 


Devotion  to  THii  B.  V.  Mary 


in  tljo  county  of  Sydney,  Nova  Scotia,  and  the  son-boat 
island  of  Capo  Breton.  And  the  old  niotlu^r  lived 
there  to  a  good  old  ago,  and  saw  her  childnni's  cliil- 
drcn  to  t])c  fourth  generation.  Now,  in  her  gnindson's 
dioccs(>,  tliero  staiid  twelve  churcheH,  including  tlio 
cathedral,  under  the  invocation  of  the  ImniacnLite 
Motlier  of  God.  "Wo  have  thousandH,"  says  tlio 
bishop,  "members  of  the  Confraternity  of  Our  Lady's 
Bosary :  of  the  Confraternity  of  the  Sca^mlar  and  of 
the  Sacred  Hearts  of  Jesus  and  Mary."'  There  tlion, 
in  brief,  imperfect  sketch,  Ave  intimate  the  existence 
the  mountain  Gaelic  child  of  Mary  on  this  continent, 
Doubtless  a  mine,  with  rich  veins  of  gold  therein,  cmild 
the  taste  and  the  opportunity  for  its  working  be  luiited 
in  the  same  individual. 

Under  the  spiritual  jurisdiction  of  Arichat  arc  tlio 
tribes  of  Indian  Catholics  of  that  region.  The  Mic- 
macs,  we  believe,  are  tlie  larg(\st.  Converts  tlicv  ef 
the  old  Acadian  missionaries,  in  the  davs  of  tlie  niui- 
tyr  Jesuitc,  of  the  Ursuline  Mary  of  the  Incarnalidii: 
and  of  Margaret  Bourgooys,  the  Sister  of  Our  Ladv. 
They  are  allied  with  the  Mareschite,  the  Penobscot, 
the  Passamaquoddy,  and  the  remains  of  th(>  C;inadiaii 
Abenaki ;  all  appertaining  to  the  once  wide-.s})r(.;!d 
and  powerfid  race  of  the  Algonquin.  "A  good  peop!>' 
chcse  Micmacs  of  Capo  Breton,"  says  the  Protcstaiil 
Judge  Ilaliburton,  "possessed  of  an  inexhaustible 
stock   of  spirits   and   good-humor.      Roman  Catliolic 


'  Letter  of  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Mackinnon. 


XKi 


IN  North  Amehica. 


45 


ami  the  soa-boat 
la  niotlier  livc.l 
r  cliililvou  a  diil- 
111  lici"  j^ri\n(lsou's 
>s,  iiichulinu;  ilio 
tlio  luiuviculiito 
^aiicls,"   says   tlie 
ity  of  Our  Lady's 
(  Scapular'  and  of 
,,.">     TIk'Vo  then, 
,to  tbo  cxiHtx-'nce 
on  tliis  c'ontiiioiit. 
yokl  thovfin,  could 
,  working  be  ui\itra 

of  Arichat  arc  tlio 
rcnon.     Tlic  'Slk- 
Converts  tlu^y  nl 
Lo  davs  of  tlio  luar- 
of  tlio  Incaniatuni; 
■lister  of  Our  LuAy. 
lito,  the  ronobscot, 
lus  of  tbo  Caniidi:u. 
0   onco  Avidosprc!;.! 
n.      "A  good  l>'H)pl' 
sjiys  tlic  Protestanl 
)f  "  an    inexliaustible 
r.     Eomaii  Catliolie 

ivckinnon. 


priests  aro  still  tlioir  religious  instructors,  and,  con- 
sid(  ling  tho  small  advantages  of  tlioso  poor  peoplo, 
tlieir  character  is  not  bad.  Dishonesty  is  seldora 
heard  of  among  them." ' 

So  says  tho  Protestant  historian  of  Nova  Scotia,  but 
^he  Catholic  Pastor  says,  •'  All  our  Indians  are  Catho- 
lics,— honest,  humble,  good  people.  Their  churches 
lU'o  generally  under  tho  invocation  of  Saint  Anno,  tho 
Mother  of  tho  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  Saint  Anne  was 
given  tho  aborigines  of  this  country  as  patroness  bv 
tho  first  missionaries. 

Oiu'  poor  Indians  aro  very  devout  people  :  they 
are  remarkable  for  their  fidelity  to  the  faith,  Not- 
w'ithstantling  the  many  temptations  to  which  they  are 
exposed,  and  the  manner  in  which  their  religious  be- 
lief is  tampered  Avith,  no  inducement  can  bring  them 
to  abandon  their  faith.  Tho  Indian,  male  or  female, 
invariably  has  either  a  medal  of  tho  Blessed  Virgin, 
or  a  small  crucifix  hanging  from  the  neck.  With  tho 
blessed  beads  in  his  hand,  lie  defies  all  opposition  ; 
and  no  human  argument,  no  amount  of  bribery  can 
make  him  violate  his  allegiance  to  God.  He  says  to 
all,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  his  father,  that  Mary  is 
his  mother,  and  within  that  impregnable  stronghold 
cf  faith,  the  gates  of  hell  cannot  prevail  against 
him."' 

If  your  canoe  be  of  birch-bark  and  your  sail  of  good 


'  Hon.  C.  J.  Haliburton's  Nova  Scotia,  ii.  250. 
'  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  of  Aricliat. 
15* 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


^  J^^4^. 


/^^VV 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


;r:i^  llllli^ 

•^  i^    1112.2 


u 


2.0 


1.8 


U    11.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  S72-4S03 


4:. 


4ip 


IL 


4 


\ 


ZiQ 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


canvas ;  if  tlio  sea  bo  smooth  and  tlie  wind,  right  abaft, 
you  may  sweep  over  the  bhie  brine  Hke  a  swallow 
through  tlie  air,  and  in  a  few  hours  laud,  from  Capo 
Breton,  in  Maine  of  the  Catholic  Abenakis.  The  lust 
we  saw  of  them,  if  we  remember  rightly,  iiury  vvero 
standing  horror-struck  around  the  hacked  and  man- 
gled body  of  Father  Ilasles  at  Norridgewock.  Now  wo 
are  to  see  them  again,  following  the  stops  of  saintly 
Cardinal  de  Cheverus,  somewhere,  I  guess,  in  tlio 
absence  of  dates,  about  1810.  He  has  given  himself 
the  preliminary  trouble  to  learn  what  he  can  of  the 
language  of  these  Indians.  He  thinks  it,  as  do  otlior 
scholars  in  it,  allied,  by  structure  at  least,  to  Hebrew. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  philology  is  not  at  present  his  oc- 
cupation. He  gets  together  M'liat  vestments,  books, 
and  other  things  in  small  compass,  are  absolutely 
necessary  for  a  priest.  He  hires  a  guide,  buys  a  stuil", 
and  sets  off,  on  foot,  from  Boston,  "  luib  of  the  Uui- 
verse." 

He  strikes  into  the  trackless  forest ;  breaks  his  way 
through  brush  and  thicket ;  lives  upon  bread  which  he 
has  taken  with  him ;  sleeps  upon  the  spruce-boughs 
which  the  guide  hews  down.  Day  after  day  thoy 
break  their  road  through  the  obstructed  forest,  or 
walk  cheerily  where  they  have  found  a  glade.  The 
lay  of  the  Lord,  dies  Dominica,  comes,  crimson  at 
dawn,  to  light  the  green  umbrage  of  the  redulout 
pines ;  "  on  dewy  branch,  birds,  here  and  there,  witii 
short,  deep  warble,  salute  the  coming  day.  Stars  fade 
out,  and  galaxies.     The  Universe  opens  its  portals  for 


am 


IN  North  America. 


347 


Mary 

e  winil  riglit  abaft, 
ne  lilce  a  swallow 
rs  laiia,  fr<:>m  Capo 
.\)euaki8.     Tho  last 

rightly,  tiu-y  wove 
)  hacked  and  maii- 
idgewock.  Now  wo 
tho  stops  of  saintly 
e,  I  guess,  iu  tho 
e  has  given  hinisi'U" 
what  he  can  of  tlio 
hinks  it,  as  do  other 
at  least,  to  Hebrew, 
ot  at  present  his  on- 
it  vestments,  books, 

jass,  are  absolutely 
a  guide,  buys  a  stull", 
,n,  "hub  of  thcUni- 

rest ;  breaks  his  way 
upon  bread  which  lie 
u  the  spruce-boughs 
Day  after  day  tUoy 
obstructed  forest,  or 
found  a  glade.    The 
,  comes,   crimson  at 
.'age   of   the   redolent 
here  and  there,  with 
ingday.     Stars  fade 
opens  its  portals  for 


the  levee  of  the  gi'eat  High  King.'"  And  above  the 
woodland  notes,  or  the  sough  of  the  wind  in  the  pines, 
rises  a  chorus  of  human  voices,  indistinct,  distant,  soft, 
ringing  through  the  verdurous  alleys  of  the  scented 
wood ;  and  the  French  missionary  recognizes  the  notes 
of  Dupont's  Royal  Mass ;  that  which  still  echoes  be- 
times among  the  stately  arches  of  Notre  Dame,  or  the 
paganish  square-flatness  of  the  Madelaine.  It  is  the 
Sinuliiy  morning  devotion  of  the  poor,  priestlcss,  but 
imprognably  loyal  Abnaki,  Savages,  they  call  them, 
to  distinguish  them  from  the  French  democrats  of 
179J5,  and  from  others.  They  call  tliemsjlves  Wanba- 
iiakki,  Children  of  the  Northern  Light. 

So,  while  God  was  listening  to  such  of  the  prayers 
of  the  AJamcdrmok,  or  Mass  Devotion,  as  the  poor 
"  savages"  were  entitled  to  utter.  His  minister  and  rep- 
resentative walked  into  the  midst  of  them.  Then  were 
prayers  and  all  else  put  aside,  as  their  swift  observa- 
tive  eyes  saw  the  cassock.  "  It  is  the  black-robe,"  they 
cried,  "  it  is  the  chief  of  prayer."  He  was  the  first 
they  had  seen  for  fifty  years.  Yet  never,  during  all 
that  time,  had  these  "  savages"  omitted  to  celebrate 
the  Sundays  and  the  grand  festivals,  as  they  could, 
without  one  empowered  to  offer  the  supreme  act  of 
adoration,  a  pure  sacrifice.  Not  an  answer  of  their 
catechism  had  they  forgotten :  the  children  had  learned 
(|uestion  and  response  correctly  from  the  memory  of 
their  barbarian  sires  and  dams.     Their  instruction,  in 

'  CarWle'e  French  Revolution. 


w 


348 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


i 


its  limit,  was  so  perfect,  and  their  morals,  on  examina- 
tion, were  so  spotless,  tliat  the  holy  de  Clieverus  wept 
for  joy. 

"  See  how  good  God  is  to  you,"  he  said  to  tlicm. 
"  He  has  not  forgotten  you ;  He  has  only  tried  your 
faith  and  perseverance.  Now  you  ha^  o  your  rowtud. 
He  has  sent  me  here  to  you  to  dispense  His  word,  His 
graces,  and  his  sacraments."  And  they  were  glad, 
those  poor  savages,  that  the  bread  of  life  was  to  be 
broken  to  them  again :  and,  progressionist  as  we  are, 
we  fear  that  they  were  content  with  what  de  Chcvorus 
could  give  them,  heedless  alike  of  the  invi'iug  s})leii- 
dors  of  the  Great  Father  at  Washington,  of  the  Bos- 
tonian  intelligence,  or  of  the  philanthropy  of  Doctor 
Beecher  and  Madame  Baphael. 

The  coarse  fancy  hunger  to  be  the  greatest  of  evils ; 
ah,  if  they  could  feel  the  horror  of  hcing  ohllgcd  to  caf, 
by  courtesy !  Mgr.  de  Cheverus  sat  upon  his  b'iar- 
skin,  and  compelled  himself  to  swallow,  from  his  birdi- 
bark  disli,  the  filth  which  the  pious  Indians  can  swal- 
low with  impunity ;  aged  fish  boiled  without  salt,  for 
two  months ;  swine's  fic-sh  greenly  antique ;  by  and  by, 
towards  the  third  month  of  his  mission,  getting  covered 
by  those  "  friends  of  man,"  which,  having  eight  legs, 
are  nameless.  "Lc  seul  casuel"  he  said,  "qiiil  rclirdt 
de  son  mhiistere.  The  only  chance  (fee)  which  he  got 
in  his  ministry  there."  At  last  he  had  to  confine  liim- 
self  exclusively  to  bread ;  unable  as  he  was  to  see, 
with  his  good  Indians  and  some  others  who  arc  not 
Indians,  the  connection  between  piety  and  nastiuess. 


lil< 


MfeT*SS|M^3!S«ri»«™-'- 


.  Mary 

morals,  on  exainina- 
ly  de  Clievcrus  wept 

i,"  lie  said  to  them, 
lias  only  tried  your 
u  lia'O  your  reward, 
tponse  His  word,  His 
nd  they  were  glad, 
lad  of  hfe  was  to  be 
Tcssionist  as  we  are, 
ith  what  de  Cheverus 
of  the  invi'  iug  spleii- 
.shington,  of  the  Bos- 
lilanthrojiy  of  Doctor 

the  greatest  of  evils ; 
of  hciwj  ohl'Kjcd  to  eai, 
IS  sat  upon  his  h'^ar- 
allow,  from  his  hircli- 
lous  Indians  can  swal- 
niled  without  h;ilt,  for 
|y  antique  ;  by  and  by, 
[ission,  getting  covered 
ill,  having  eight  legs, 
|he  said,  "quilrctimt 
tee  (fee)  which  he  got 
[lo  had  to  confine  liirn- 
|le  as  he  was  to  see, 
te  others  who  are  not 
piety  and  nastiuess. 


IN  North  America. 


349 


The  master  of  a  French  vessel  recognized  him  once, 
from  his  deck,  buffeted  by  the  rough  waves  of  the 
ocean,  in  a  bark  canoe  :  and  begged  permission  to 
carry  him  to  his  destination.  The  future  cardinal  de- 
clared himself  at  home  with  his  Indians,  and  refused 
to  change  conveyances. 

Our  Indians  were  dirty  ;  but  though  that  caused  him 
much  suffering,  it  was  not  that  which  lie  saw  most 
clearly.  But  this' — sentiments  so  noble  and  so  com- 
monly prevalent,  that  the  civilized  world  might  well 
blush  at  the  comparison :  such  simplicity  of  gratitude 
for  small  kindness ;  such  tenderness  of  mothers ;  such 
heroism  of  filial  piety.  They  could  not  believe  that 
the  French  had  murdered  their  king  (Louis  XYI).  "It 
was  a  lie,"  they  said  of  their  neighbors,  "  invented  to 
make  them  hate  the  French."  In  vam  did  Monsei- 
gneur  de  Clieverus  declare  to  them  that  the  nation  dis- 
avowed the  crime,  that  a  haudfiU  of  miscreants  in 
power  had  committed  it ;  the  distinction  was  too  fine 
for  the  Wanbanakld.  It  was  an  old  wliito-headed 
Indian  who  questioned  the  missionary',  and  who,  com- 
prehending the  atrocity,  was  incapable;  ^f  comprehend- 
ing the  excuse.  "  I  love  the  French  uo  longer,"  said 
the  ignorant  savage.  "  But,"  urg-^xl  tin  piiest,  "  the 
people,  as  a  nation,  disavow  the  crime."  "  Disavow  it, 
do  they,"  cried  the  unlette^'ed  barbarian,  "  they  should 
have  stood  between  their  king  and  his  assassins.  &a(x 

'  Vie  de  Jean  Lou's  Anno  Madelalue  Lefebvro  de  Cheverus,  Archo- 
veque  de  Bcid^'..M.x.     I'Lr's,  Jac(iuc;B  Lecoffre,  1850,  pp.  61-74. 


£££: 


850 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


(1 
.•.'•v.  ,■ 


died  in  his  defence." '  Later,  when,  as  archbishop  and 
cardinal,  he  spoke  of  his  barbarous  red  children,  it  was 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  with  these  words  often  re- 
repeated,  "Cea  dmes  si  grands,  si  nobles,  those  grand  and 
noble  souls." 

And  the  next  holy  man  we  see  among  them  is  Bishop 
Fenwick.  Bishop  of  Boston  he,  and  by  no  means  un- 
mindful of  his  red-men.  He  goes  to  Norridgewock, 
like  a  true  Celt,  to  take  vengeance ;  hke  an  apostle,  to 
take  the  vengeance  of  a  Christian.  "  Sije  ne  me  tvompe. 
je  vous  ai  fait  'part  de  Vinterdiuii  ou  f  etuis  de  venger  la 
memoire  du  pere  Basics.^  If  I  be  not  deceived,  I  have 
told  you  of  my  purpose  to  avenge  the  memory  of 
Father  Busies."  He  cites  from  a  New  England  author- 
ity of  that  day,  the  following  argument  used  to  convert 
the  savages.  "  Father  Basics  is  accused  of  employing 
all  the  artifices  used  in  his  order  (Jesuits)  to  seduce 
the  Indians.  That  he  taught  them  the  doctrine  of 
salvation  through  Jesus  Christ,  but  at  the  same  time 
nrade  them  believe  that  Mary,  Mother  of  Jesus  Christ, 
was  a  Frenchwoman ;  that  our  Blessed  Lord  himself 
had  been  put  to  death  by  the  English ;  and  that  it  Avas 
meritorious,  just,  and  good  for  all  Christians  to  kill 
Englishmen." '  A  doctiine  not  so  unbelieved  as  you 
might  fancy,  only  not  a  French  doctrine. 

Now  the  mode  of  the  good  bishop's  vengeance  was 
on  this  wise.    First  he  piu'chased  an  acre  of  land,  in- 


•  Vie  du  Cardinal  de  Cheverus,  p.  74. 

•  Annales  de  la  Propagation  de  la  Foi  p.  LyoP;  viJ.  177. 

•  See  detailed  account  in  Dr.  Fenwick'e  letter. — Ibid.,  vii.  178 


tma?^^smsi&.-. 


IN  NonTE  America. 


351 


closing  tlio  site  of  the  ancient  Indian  Churcli,  of  the 
cabin  of  Father  Rasles,  and  of  part  of  the  once  happy 
village  of  Narrantsowack.  A  pile  of  stones  still 
marked  the  position  of  the  altar,  and  beneath  them 
mouldered  the  relics  of  the  martyred  missionary. 
Bishop  Fenwick  then  ordered  a  granite  obelisk  and 
pedestal  of  twenty'  feet  in  height,  surmounted  by  a  flo- 
riated cross  in  iron.  Then,  after  careful  publication  of 
his  intentions,  he  went  to  the  spot,  to  celebrate  a  re- 
quiem Mass  for  the  Indians,  some  sixty  or  seventy  in 
numbei",  who  had  fallen  in  the  massacre  :  to  pronounce 
^^.o  eulogy  of  the  missionary,  and  to  inaugurate  his 
monument.  The  inhabitants  poured  out  of  the  towns 
and  villages  to  see  the  novel  ceremony.  Five  thou- 
sand, the  bishop  thought.  And  there  the  monument 
was  erected  on  that  anniversary  of  the  martyrdom, 
August  29th,  1833.  Two  years  afterwards  it  was 
thrown  down ;  restored  again ;  and  again,  in  1851, 
overthrown. 

Among  the  audience  was  a  grandson  of  one  of  the 
murderers  ;  a  Protestant  and  a  man  of  great  resi:)ect- 
ability.  More  than  once,  during  the  ccremoines,  he 
wept  bitterly,  and  it  was  in  a  voice  broken  by  heavy 
sobs,  that  he  thanked  the  prelate  for  the  "  pious  and 
solemn  act  of  reparation  made  to  the  memory  of  as 
honest  a  man  as  ever  lived  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth." '  If  we  give  his  story  in  his  own  words  here, 
it  is  to  show  what  the  love  and  habitual  imitation  oi 


'  Ann.  de  la  Prop.,  vii.  183,  et  seq. 


352 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maiiy 


iiipiii 


Maiy  can  effect  in  tlio  hearts  of  savages.  "  Your  work 
here,"  lie  saiil  to  the  bishop,  **  is  a  truly  pious  one.  I 
do  not  belong  to  your  religion,  but  I  esteem  this  act  of 
yours.  I  am  no  stranger  to  the  events  of  that  deplor- 
able day  on  which  Father  Rasles  lost  his  life.  My  owu 
grandfather  was  one  of  that  unhappy,  cruel,  and  un- 
just expedition ;  and  on  the  day  of  his  death,  he  cried 
like  a  child  on  remembering  the  massacre.  One  cir- 
cumstance, unknown  to  Catholics,  unrecorded  by  non- 
Catholics,  I  will,  with  your  permission,  tell  you. 

"  Tho  New  Englanders  had  with  them  a  large  num- 
ber of  pagan  savages.  The  young  braves  of  Owena- 
{mnga  were  away  hunting  or  fishing.  The  first  fire  of 
the  assassins  killed  the  few  old  men  and  boys  who  at- 
tempted to  resist,  killed  them,  or  wounded  and  dis- 
persed them.  One  woman,  with  her  baby  in  her  arms, 
crossed  the  river,  and  hid  herself  in  a  cavern  in  the 
forest  there.  On  the  next  day,  when,  after  burning  the 
church  and  village,  the  Yankees  had  retired,  carrying 
with  them  what  was  valuable  among  the  missionary's 
personal  effects,  the  poor  woman  recrossed  the  stream 
to  search  for  her  husband  among  the  corpses  of  the 
slain.  She  found  him,  and  having  scooped  out  his 
grave  in  the  sands  of  the  river  shore,  she  laid  him 
therein,  and  turned  away  from  the  spot  to  recross  the 
river.  But  deep  moans  of  pain  from  a  thicket  arrested 
her  attention  :  she  searched  the  spot  and  found,  not 
one  of  her  people,  but  one  of  their  Avhito  murderers, 
severely  wounded  by  a  ball  from  some  Abnaki 
musket. 


IN  North  America. 


353 


"  Tliere  lie  lay,  completely  at  the  mercy  of  this  sav- 
age who  had  just  inearthed  her  husband, — killed,  per- 
haps, by  this  same  pale  face.  But  she  sul)dued  every 
thought  of  vengeance,  she  recalled  only  ideas  of  reli- 
gion :  she  pardoned,  and,  having  succeeded  in  getting 
the  man  to  her  canoe,  paddled  him  over  the  river  and 
concealed  him,  from  any  chance  return  of  the  Indians, 
in  her  own  cave  of  refuge.  Here  she  nursed  and  nour- 
ished him  with  the  tender  care  of  a  mother,  and  bade 
God  bless  him  when  returning  strength  permitted  him 
to  depart  for  his  home.  *  He  wept,'  says  his  descend- 
ant, '  at  the  recollection  of  this  good  Samaritan 
woman ;'  which  was  a  great  consolation,  for  he  was  a 
civilized  Puritan,  she  merely  a  Papist  and  a  savage." 

All  the  long  period  from  Father  llaslcs'  death  to  the 
advent  of  Bishop  Fenwick,  our  poor  red  friends  were 
exposed  to  perpetual  annoyance  from  the  "  mission- 
aries" of  Boston :  nay,  even  Indians  are  employed ; 
and  their  ancient  foe,  the  Iroquois,  furnished  some 
apostates  from  the  faith,  who  undertook  the  perversion 
of  the  Alnambay  of  Maine.  They  succeeded  as  those 
edifying  laborers  usually  do — that  is,  they  have  not  yet 
made  one  single  convert.  Now,  fortunately,  they  have  a 
devoted  patriarch,  or  as  they,  who  have  no  "II"  in  tlieii' 
language,  call  him,  Pallias,  Rev.  Eugene  Vetromile. 

This  priest  has  secured  them  from  much  danger  by 
providing  them  with  books  in  their  own  tongue,  a  book 
of  catechetical  instruction  and  a  prayer-book.'     Ho 


'  Alnambay  uli  Awikldgan,  Indian  Good  Book,  made  by  Eugene 
y 


1  H 


354 


Devotion  to  tiik  13.  V.  Maky 


WUH  liiml  rn()u<j[li  to  H(ind  both,  iih  W(*11  uh  liin  ijigc^iiiouH 
('iiU'iidar,  to  tlui  pn'Hoiit  vvi'iic.r.  Tho  iiiKtriiction  hodk 
1  giivo  to  tlui  vdiuMiiblo  Do  Smot,  on  IiIh  tlopiirtun!  for 
tho  lloc'ky  Mountiiins  ;  tho  other  I  viihio  ymttsfully, 
ttiul  pi'OHOlVO. 

"  iSicitiprc  Jill,  ovor  truo,"  ih  tlio  proud  motto  of  tlio 
Cuban  Spiuiiiird  ;  but  wlio  luivo  a  bottor  right  to  Huch 
a  logond  than  our  pcxu"  souh  of  tlu)  Northern  Liglit,— 
HO  h)ng  uoghHitiid,  horoavod,  untaught,  but  prosorviiig 
thoir  roHgiouH  instruetit)n  orally,  through  dcsolato  half 
eonturioH  at  a  tuno  ?  '•  To-day,"  Ha}  h  Fathor  Votro- 
milo,  "  you  cannot  lind  Iiouho  or  wigwam  without  a 
picture  or  imago  of  our  Lady.  I  have  never  met  an 
Indian  who  did  not  wear  a  modal,  a  llosary,  or  a  Soap- 
idar.  The  lirst  prayer  which  parents  teach  their  cLll- 
dreu,  is  tho  '  Malic  KHakunikd,  Hail  Mary.'  "  They 
still  keep  up  tho  ancient  practice'  of  sending  their  b(^iib 
to  our  Lady  of  Saint  Frantds  do  Sales,  in  times  of  sick- 
ness or  distress.  Ilioro  kneeling,  thoy  cast  their  sor- 
rows at  tho  feet  of  Mary,  and  remind  that  geutlcHt 
Mother,  "  that  none  ever  have  recourso  to  her  in  vaiu." 
Let  us  give  this  shortest  prayer,  tho  "  Aleuiorare  o 
2junsi)iia  Vii'(jo  Maria:  remember,  O  gentlest  Virgin 
Mary,"  as  a  specimen  of  tho  Penobscot  tongue.  "  We- 
Avittahama  Sangamawi  Malio  kussiusque,  esma  wewel- 
maussi  attamahh,  kemisnamon  chhlat,  Nehamskawass 


Vetroniilp,  Indian  Patriiirch,  for  the  Passamaquoildy,  Penobscot,  St. 
Johns,  Micmac,  and  other  tribes  of  the  Abnaki  Indians.    New  York : 
Dunigan  &  Brother,  1858. 
'  Vide,  jiassim,  chap.  viii.  of  this  work. 


IN  MOIITII    AMFftlCA. 


r)o 


|i()S(!k(),  kMrluri  ntlHiii.'ilih  k(;iiiiHii)iiii(>n  rlat.  .\ii(1ii, 
Siin^'aiiuiwi  Miilio  laiHHiiiH(jii(!,  niidii.  M<;li  clitc.iiiiwul- 
ilaimi,  cli  k'Hiiiif'mim  moiiii  'Avvmh.     Niiilctch."  ' 


•oud  motto  of  tlio 


>  Indian  (Jood  Hook,  p.  168. 


35G 


Devotion  to  Tiiii  13.  V.  Mauy 


CIIArTlvll  XVIII. 


flu''.' 


li 


Oni.ATI   MAHI.B    IMMAOUI.AT-IS.      OKKKIIKI)    KOll  MAUV   IMMAOtU-ATR. 

SditELY  no  oiui  of  llio  (lovont  roadcrs  of  ili(>Ho 
sli(>telu'H  liiiH  for^.'tl',!)!  tlio  niiiiui  of  Olicr;  how  wo 
Riiw  liiiii  ^v•o^kill;^  for  ilio  (Jiiy  of  IMury  on  tlio  S.iiiit 
Luwroncc,  founding  tli(^  Kocidty,  Hondiiig  out  tlio  iiiiiiis- 
tvvH,  who,  mupiii^  for  tlio  Hiunu  Muster,  whtiro  tlio 
Ji'SiiilH  had  sown,  garnered  gloriouH  harvests  hi  Nortli- 
orn  Ainei'iea.  Let  ns  hopo,  too,  Uiat  Father  (!limi- 
nuniot,  that  stuch'nt  in  tlie  Colle{»o  of  Jesus  in  Homo, 
who  gave  its  Ih'st  Loretto  to  this  contiuent,  is  not 
ah'eady  hidden  by  tlie  nuwiso  hurry  of  our  life  hero. 
If  yea,  hit  us  recall  them  both  by  another  student,  oiio 
nearer  to  us  in  time.  Another  llower  ri[)enc!(l  by  that 
detestable  mnek-heap,  the  I'Voneh  Ilevolution.  A  b!il)y 
exile:  a  schoolboy  in  the  collepjo  of  tiobUiS  ai;  Tuiin; 
after  that,  tempted  by  wcaltli,  by  his  family,  by  ahuu- 
dant  opi)ortunity  of  and  intluonco  for  distijictiou  to 
remain  in  tho  world;  and  refusing  all.  Urged  by  an 
aged  nnclo  with  this  final  argnniont,  "  Ton  are  tho  last 
of  your  name ;"  lio  makes  answer,  "  And  what  nion; 
honorable  for  any  family  than  to  end  in  tho  person  of 
a  priest  ?" ' 

'  Oraiaon  fun^bre  do  Moiisoi{i;noiir  (l(i  Mazonod,  par  Monscigneur 
Jeancard,  ivcijue  de  Ceramo.    MarsuilJes :  li'Cl. 


^ilClii    'i'i''''iyii '■ 


,  Maivv 


III. 

U  MAUV    1MMA(M:I.ATK. 

t     rfudi'VS    of     tllCHO 

of   Olicr;  ln>w  wo 
Mary  on  tlio  Saiii^, 
luVni}^'  out  llio  minis- 
Miisti'.r,  wlu^vci  llio 
iH  harvests  in  Noiili- 
,  Uiat  FalUia-  C\m\\- 
fe  of  Jt'HUs  ill  lloiuo, 
liis  contiiuMit,  is  not 
iny  of  onv  lifo  here, 
uuolhdv  stmloiit,  ono 
wcr  x\[\v.nv.d  by  lliiit 
III,. volution.     Abiiby 
of  !iobU;safc  Turin; 
his  family,  by  abuu- 
:o  iov  distinction  to 
|g  all.    Vi-i;M\  by  an 
lit,  "  Tou  are  tho  last 
Ir,  "And  Avliat  wore 
lend  in  tho  person  of 


In7.ono<\,  par  Blonscigneur 


IN  NoiiTii  AMKHiriA.  867 

Fimilly,  ^nnvn  u]) ;  not  wilful,  but  ablo  by  oduratiori 
and  coil  'cliou  to  convinco  his  cldcrH,  Ik!  f)V('rcoTrn>« 
tlicir  o])|>osition,  and  <'nl(>r«  as  student  in  llio  Soini- 
iiary  of  Saint  Suli>ic(^  His  name  is  (!|iail('S  .ToH(!|)h 
Euf^cno  do  IMazcuod.  It  is  not  ours  b»  follow  liini  in 
liis  career  as  seiiiinariaji  and  priest.  T'jiiou</h  lliat  tho 
blossom  and  buil  foretold  the  richness  of  the  ripened 
luid  perf<'('t  fruit.  l»ishoj>  of  "MMrseillcs  li<^  stiinds, 
Avlien  we  first  require  to  look  at  liiiii.  A  soldier  of 
God  and  iSfary,  Avitli  the  new  id'-as,  bep^otteii  of  tho 
li(>volution,  to  combat;  with  the  looseness  of  niMiiiM'r 
;u!d  iiiiHM'  moi'iils,  and  the  deeiiy  of  res])eelidtility 
iiiseparablci  from  tlu^  success  of  liberty,  I'ldsely  so 
called,  to  correct,  as  ^race  mit^dit  b(^  j^'iveii  him.  Tfis 
courap;(i  was  lii;^li,  his  will  Ih'ii),  his  fl;iL,'  lh<^  true  ono, 
his  r«'lianco  tho  Stronj^'  One,  but  he  could  not  hopo  to 
hiiltle  triumphantly  alone. 

H(MVorked  long  and  haid  to  gather  and  foiiu  a  body 
of  devoted  priests.  Caught  by  his  spirit,  many  gavo 
themselves  up  to  him  for  these  new  missions  in  tho 
laud  of  tho  •'  Eldest  S(m  of  tho  Church."  Their  zeal 
was  rewarded  with  a  golden  harvest  of  souls;  thoir 
success  Avon  recruits  to  their  banner  ;  thoy  Avere  evan- 
gelizing seven  dioceses  alrc^ady,'  ■when,  cntroatiHl  by  tho 
bishops,  ho  d(;torniined  to  form  thorn  into  an  Order,  if 
permitt(Hl.  So  ho  sought  tho  permission  at  tho  tomb 
of  Peter.  Tho  then  successor  of  tlio  Prince  of  tho 
Apostles,  Leo  the  Twelfth,  i-eceived  both  tho  bishop 

'  Oraison  funebre,  p.  17. 


358 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


.;^i?^'' 


V'-i 


and  his  project  witli  favor.  The  Cardinals  charged 
with  such  affairs  received  their  orders,  and  the  new 
association  took  its  phico  among  the  canonically  con- 
stituted families  of  God's  Church.  The}'  were  called 
*•  Ohhfi  Jfarifc — Men  offered,  soul  and  body,  unto  God 
Supreme  in  honor  of  Immaculate  ]\Iary." 

He  had  already  been  offerxl  the  Cardinal's  hat  by 
the  same  Pontiff,  buL  had  refused  it.  Let  him  stay 
with  his  Oblatcs  of  Mary  :  that  was  his  place  :  that  his 
work.  "  God  willed,"  says  his  eloquent  eulogist,  "  to 
bestow  ujion  him,  not  the  purple  of  terrestrial  dignity, 
but  the  robo  of  eternal  glory.  "Was  it  not  a  foretaste 
of  that,  when  he  lived  to  see  his  spiritual  childven 
evangelizing  the  v/orld,  from  the  islands  and  peninsulas 
of  Japan  to  the  snow-clad  wastes  beyond  the  vast 
North  American  lakes !  To  see  five  of  them  conse- 
crated bishops  by  his  own  hands  at  the  head  of  as 
many  missions !  We  may  say  of  him  as  of  the  Ajjos- 
tles,  'His  voice  has  gone  forth  over  all  the  earth.' 
What  man,  of  our  day,  has  done  more  for  the  Church  ? 
To  find  his  fellows  wo  must  remount  to  tho  holy  found- 
ers of  orders.  Plis  order,  only  of  yesterday  as  it  is, 
counts  a  legion  of  evangelical  laborers  at  home  as 
abroad,  from  the  tropics  to  the  poles.  He  it  was  who 
cared  for  them  all;  he  who  directed  their  zeal  and 
fortified  their  courage.  He  animated  them  with  his 
fervent  spirit ;  communicated  to  them  his  own  lively 
faith  ;  inspii-cd  them  with  that  heroic  confidence  which 
defies  obstacles.  No  seas  have  been  found  so  vast  or 
stormy,  no  forest  so  profound,  no  race  so  barbarous 


IN  North  America. 


359 


and  rebel  to  tlio  truth  as  to  stop  tliem  in  their  inarch 
of  self-devotion,  in  their  progress  of  spiritual  con- 
quest."    They  are  Oblates  of  Mary. 

Let  his  last  "svill  and  testament  show  the  spirit  of  his 
life.  "I  implore,"  he  says  therein,  "the  mercy  of 
God,  through  the  merits  of  our  divine  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ,  in  whom  I  place  all  my  confidence,  so  to  obtain 
the  pardon  of  my  sins  and  the  grace  of  reception  in 
liis  holy  Paradise.  Therefore,  I  invoke  the  interces- 
siou  of  the  holy  and  Immaculate  Virgin  Mary,  Mother 
of  God ;  daring  to  remind  her,  in  this  my  extreme  hour, 
iu  all  humility,  but  with  consoling  confidence,  of  my 
hfe-loug  filial  devotion  to  her,  and  my  perpetual  desire 
and  endeavor  to  make  her  known  and  loved  whereso- 
ever my  influence  could  extend."  "  Never,"  we  are 
told,  "did  he  neglect  his  meditation  or  his  Ptosaiy ; 
utvcr  did  he  remit  the  austerities  of  his  laborious  and 
peuiiont  lif(i,  nor  the  fervor  of  his  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin." 

"  Stay  with  us,  my  Father,"  said  some  one  to  him  as 
he  lay  dying.  "We  have  such  need  of  you,  God  will 
not  refuse  to  leave  you  wit  \  us,  if  you  ask  Iliui."  "No," 
he  answered,  "  I  cannot  .  *  for  that.  I  have  but  one 
desire  :  that  His  blessed  will  bo  done.  Eeiid  then  the 
prayers  for  the  dying !  But  give  me  first  my  mis- 
sionary cross  and  beads  ;  those  are  my  arms !"  He 
took  the  crucifix  in  one  hand  and  his  chaplot  in  the 
other,  and  never  loosened  his  hold  on  them  again,  al- 
though his  agony  lasted  tldrUj  hoara.  They  repeated 
the  complines  over  and  over  again  for  him.    At  the 


i 


p. 


3G0 


Devotion  to  thk  B.  V.  Mary 


vorsos,  "  In  ITim  -svill  I  sloop  and  talco  my  rest" — "  In 
Thoe,  0  Lord,  have  I  trustod ;  I  sliall  never  be  con- 
fonnd(Hl" — "  Into  Thy  hands,  O  Lord,  I  coniniond  my 
spirit ;"  and  at  the  "  'Now,  liord,  lot  Thy  servant  de- 
part in  peace,"'  he  tostifuid  his  approbation  of  tlio  sen- 
timent l)y  a  motion  of  his  hands. 

Th(>n,  Avhen  they  recited  the  iS((Jw  J?r(ju}a,  for  it  was 
Tuesday  in  tlm  Whitsnn  Octave,  ho  followed  the 
beautiful  prayer.  At  the  sentence,  "After  this  exil(^ 
show  to  us  thy  Son,"  he  opcniod  his  eyes.  ATlien  tlioy 
said,  "  O  cl(>ment,  O  f^entle,"  he  nmrmured  the  words, 
and  then,  a\  ith  a  suprcnne  eflbrt,  he  added  aloud  with 
the  others,  "  0  sweet  Virgin  Mary!""  and  broatlied 
forth  his  holy  soul  into  her  maternal  arms.  Such  was 
the  father  :  let  us  look  for  a  little  at  the  life  of  liis  sons 
ill  North  America. 

In  1827  the  work  A\as  begun  in  Franco,  or  ratlicr 
tlie  idea  of  the  holy  ])r(date  was  accomplislnMl  liy  tliat 
date.  By  IS-^tu  ninotoon  01)late  priests  W(>r(^  at  woik 
in  Canada.'  At  Montreal,  at  Quebec,  at  Kingston, 
with  the  vast  dependencies  of  those  dioceses.  By  1815 
they  had  secured  to  themselves  the  Indian  Apostolatc, 
and  that  of  the  lumberers  or  woodmen,  thous;uuls  of 
whom  live,  more  uncultured  than  the  savage,  in  the 


'  In  iclipsum  dormiam  ot  rfquicsciim. — Pa.  iv.  In  Tc  Domino 
spcravi,  nmi  coufiindar  in  a'ternum.  In  mantis  Tuas  Domino  cum- 
mendo  R|iirituni  uu'inii. —  1'!=,  xxx.  Nunc  dimittis  sorvuiu  Tiiimi 
Doniinc. — St.  Lidvc's  (Jospi'l,  ii, 

-  "  Filiuin,  pi)st  line  cxilium  ostonde.  O  clmnens,  0  ])ia,  0  dulcis 
Virgo  Maria." — Pontccoyt  C'oniplino  Antiplion. 

^  Annalc's  de  la  Propagation  du  la  Foi.     Lyons,  xvii.  311,  ct  soq. 


ii 


Mary 


IN  North  AirERicA. 


3G1 


talxG  my  roRt"— "In 
shall  never  bo  con- 
Dvd,  I  commend  my 
lot  Thy  servant  dc- 
)robation  of  the  scii- 

h'c  nr(jhin,  for  it  was 
o,  he  follow(Ml  tlin 
20,  "  After  this  exile 
is  eyes.  AA' hen  they 
nurmured  the  words, 
ho  added  aloud  with 
nry!'"  and  hreatliod 
•nal  arms.  Such  was 
at  the  hfe  of  his  sons 

in  FrariCC,  or  ratlicr 

iccomplislK'd  hy  tliat 

priests  W(H-o  at  work 

uebec,   at   Kingston, 

Ise  diooeses.     I\vl81.') 

10  Indian  Apostolato, 

)()dmen,  thousands  of 

in  the  savage,  in  tlie 


-Ps.  iv.  In  Tc  Dominp 
Imanus  Tuas  Doiniiu'  omi- 
lie   aUnittiH  sorvum  Tiiuni 

cl.Mnens,  O  pia,  0  dulcis 

lion. 

Lvona,  xvii.  211,et8eq. 


vast  northern  forests  where  their  scene  of  labor  lies. 
Tlicy  had  already  visited  all  the  tribes  about  the 
mouth  of  the  Saint  Lawrence,  and  wtire  looking  with- 
eagor  eyes  towards  the  ice-bound  coasts  of  Labrador 
and  the  snow-huts  of  the  Escjuiniaux.  Each  year  some 
one  or  more  of  tlnnn  miist  make  a  visitation  of  every 
post.  In  1840  they  are  calhnl  to  Hudson's  Bay.  A 
mission  nearly  as  large  iu  territ{n'y  as  the  whole  of 
Europe.  Ten  degrees  of  latitude  in  width  (48^  to  58° 
N.),  it  sweeps  across  the  longitude  from  70°  to  142°, 
seventy-two  degre(>s,  from  the  slajres  of  the  Nortliern 
Atlantic  to  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  froni  Lake 
Superior  and  the  nortlunn  limit  of  the  States  to  the 
poi'i)t!tual  icel)ergs  of  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

Since  tluit  time  tliey  have  increased  immensely  in 
mnnlxir,  and  iu  fervor,  were  that  possible.  They  are 
extending  their  limits  into  the  Vnited  States.  New 
York  has  at  least  one  colony  :  New  Mexico,  if  we  mis- 
take not,  another :  California  and  Oregon  rejoice  in 
the  presence  of  the  01)lates  of  Immacidate  Mary  :  and 
eleven  years  ago  (1S.")2)  a  party  of  twenty-two  of  them 
left  France  for  the  Missions  of  Texas.  It  will  not  be 
miint(>i'esting  to  Avatch  the  growth  of  their  devotion. 
The  first  wild  missions  are  from  Three  liivers,  up  the 
Saint  Maurice,  in  a  canoe,  except  when  the  frequent 
portages  required  walking.  Salt  pork  formed  their 
dinner  and  dessert ;  two  blankets  apiece  their  bed ;  the 
diyest  bit  of  soil  they  could  find  their  solid  bedstead ; 
tlie  th'-forest  fohage  or  the  boreal  sky  their  canopy. 
But  their  welcome  by  the  Algonquin  repaid  them  for  all. 

16 


362 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


Such  eagerness  in  tlio  poor  red-skin  to  show  his  love 
and  gratitude ;  such  avidity  for  the  truth;  such  hum- 
ble reUanco  on  God,  such  chihUike  love  for  ^lary.  In 
that  first  mission,'  fifty  Indians  made  tluur  first  vxnn- 
munion,  and  tw(uity  were  l)a})tized,  nearly  all  adults. 

Another  part}-'  stretches  oft' one  hundrcHl  miles  (east- 
ward of  Quebec  to  Tadoussac.  Old  Catholics  these, 
unedifying  a  year  or  two  ago,  but  now,  181-1,  ])ious  unci 
■nourishing,  "  fire-water"  having  been  permanently  re- 
nounced. "Look,  fathei-,"  sa^'S  one  of  tlu'ni,  "wIumi 
we  drank,  we  forgot  thy  lessons :  v\e  ceasinl  to  drink, 
and  now  every  word  stag's  lu>rc,"  and  he  laid  his  luuid 
upon  his  heart.  One  hundred  communions,  tliirty-six 
ba[)tisms  here.  Still  another  Oblate,  Father  Lavn- 
lochcre,  mounts  the  Ottawa,  from  Montreal  to  tin' 
tribes  of  Abbitibbe,  neariiig  the  lower  shores  of  Ibul- 
son's  Bay.  He  is  met  by  the  grand  chief,  clad  all  in 
scarl»»t,  with  a  collar  of  ])earls  round  his  neelc,  jiiid 
lianging  over  his  breast  Our  Lady's  Bosary  and  ;i 
medal  of  the  Imuiacidate  ^Mother.  All  fervent  Catho- 
lics here,  having,  for  Indians,  fair  wealth  of  furs  aud 
game,  and  no  whiskey. 

Next  year  we  make  a  stride  from  Montreal  of  ticciihj- 
Jive  humlrtd  iiiiJc'S  northwestward.  No  railways  or 
steamers  here;  3'ea,  1815  though  it  bo.  Our  boat  is  of 
birch  l)ark,  rather  thicker  than  this  paper  which  you 
are  holding,  twice  as  thick  may  be,  not  more;  hut 


'  Annales  do  la  Prop.,  xvii.,  2 13.    Father  Bourassa,  1844. 
'  Father  Fisutte,  Aunales,  xvii.,  247. 


II 


IN  North  America. 


363 


ei-  shoves  of  Hml- 

ui  cliiof,  cliul  i\ll  ill 

mid  lii:^  nec'lv,  uml 

y's  Eosavy  iuul  :i 

All  fervent  Catho- 

wealtU  of  fuvs  luul 


ler  Bourassa,  1844. 


tougli  and  strengthened  with  ashen  ribs  and  vertebrae : 
requiring  to  be  Aany  light,  so  that  two  persons  may 
shoulder  it  and  carry  it  round  falls  and  rapids  :  a  boat 
of  perfect  buoyancj',  holding  a  dozen  persons  with  a 
teut  or  wigwam,  if  need  be,  and  some  provisions  and 
simple  culinary  apparatus.  So  through  the  grand 
forests,  along  the  fair  waters,  chanting  such  hymns  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  as  ring  in  the  catlnidrals  and  parish 
chiu'chcs  of  old  Catholic  France.  The  squirrel  chat- 
ters at  them  as  they  pass ;  the  cardinal  grosbeak 
utters  his  wild,  loud  whistle  ;  the  indigo  bunting 
flashes  his  sapphire  plumage  through  the  clear  air  ; 
or  if  it  happen  to  be  snow  season,  and  the  voices  and 
wings  of  these  be  still,  at  least  you  can  see  the  white 
rabbit  spring  up  and  scurry  away  over  the  spotless 
waste,  and,  borne  to  the  ear,  over  miles  of  snow  plain, 
sounds  the  long,  weird  howl  of  the  hungry  wolf. 

Away  up  the  Ottawa  or  the  Mattawan,  past  Sanlt 
Saint  Marie,  along  the  north  shore  of  Superior,  up  the 
Tamiuistiquia  to  the  extreme  limits  of  Canada,  and 
then,  on  foot,  across  the  broad  plateau  till  the  sparkle 
of  the  lied  lliver  waters  becomes  visible,  and,  launch- 
ing on  that  stream,  they  follow  its  course,  to  the  palace 
on  its  banks,  of  Monseigneur  Provencher,  bishop  of 
Juliopolis  and  vicar  apostolic  of  Hudson's  Bay.  A 
Canadian  he,  by  birth,  early  called,  early  sent  to  this 
wild  mission  of  Saint  Boniface,  on  the  Red  lliver,  near 
Lake  Winipeg.  Fanc}'  his  life  :  "  the  intensity  of  cold, 
the  pangs  of  hunger,  the  extreme  want  to  which  he 
was  exposed,   sometimes  without  clothes  enough  to 


'  i;. 


-I 


i^Tv 


3C4 


Dicvo'j'ioN  TO  Tui)  IJ,  V.  Mauy 


covor  liiiu.'    Fali<,Mi>)  aiul  privutioii  in  tw(uy  slia|n)  wdio 
hiH,  also  utmost  luM'oic,  apostolu!  znal." 

From  liSlS  to  l.SniJ,  //i!rh/-/i'iu:  i/cars,  was  Ms  [nnlm] 
of  labor  in  tlu^  borciil  wilds.  A  bisliop,  yot  \n)  .swini" 
a  (left  axi'  in  tlu^  woodland  ;  a  bisliop,  but  if  joii  visiUd 
liini  in  tlio  season,  you  would  iind  him  following  Iho 
I)louj;li.  Ho  had  his  work  to  do  ovoj-  souls  also  to 
transform  tribes  of  furious  wolves  into  a  lloek  of  liimhs, 
ao  that  the  (.}ood  She])lu!rd  might  Iind  them  niiuly 
when  ]Ie  called  and  led  tlunu  "to  the  green  pasluivs, 
by  the  still  wa((>rs,"  where,  in  "His  pn^scMioe  is  fulness 
of  joy  forevernu)r(\"'''  ]>y  and  by  lu^  gets  assislaiicu. 
The  Oblates  of  Immaeulate  Miivy  "  come  over  to  lulp 
liim."'  lie  sees  the  sacred  fruits  of  his  labor  (!.\lcii(liii}; 
for  ci(//il('('ii.  /iniiilird  )iiil(s,  from  tho  door  of  his  callu- 
dral ;  "  di'iiiiiiuiirrxiit  upcviosu  dcscrli.  JJcsauty  s[)riiii;- 
oth  up  in  (iu^  desert."*  Then  ho  knows  that  his  work 
is  done.  Ho  sends  for  Mr.  Tache,  a  missionary,  ono 
thousand  niili'S  away,  to  help  him,  .15ut  b(!l'or(!  tliu 
Oblato  of  IMary  can  reach  him,  lie  sleeps  sweetly  in 
Jesus.  '' Ikdif.  Doiniiiii.s  dilcclo  Sao  .sdihiuuh.  lie  hath 
given  His  beloved  shH^p.'""  And  uow  Monseigiiour 
Tache  is  tho  liishop  of  Saint  Boniface.' 

To  go   back   a  little.     AVheu  Father  LaverlocLere 


'  For  a  eketcli  of  Mgr.  Provcuclior,  seo  Annala  of  the  Propagation 
of  the  Fuith,  xxvi.  17-51. 

■■'  In  loco  piiscuu'  nic  cdllncavit ;  super  nqnnm  rofcotionis  rduciivii 
me. — Psalm  xxii.     Adiinplcbis  me  la'titia  cum  vultu  Tuo. — PHiihnxv 

*  Acta  of  the  Aixjstlos,  xvi.  *  Psalm  cxxvl. 

*  Prophecy  of  Joel,  ii.  *  Consecrated,  Nov.  38,  1857. 


IN  NOUTII  AlMKUrCA. 


366 


,  Annals  of  the  Propngatioo 

nqnani  rofoctionis  oiliiciwii 
cum  vultu  Tuo.— Pwibu  xv 

fsalm  cxxvi. 

lonsccrated,  Nov.  38, 1857. 


starts  for  lii.s  hocoikI  iniHsioii  in  1813,  li(i  lM!j;;inH  it,  lis 
lu>  ti^lls  lis,  "by  ollri'iiij^'  tlio  August  SiicrirKM!,  luid  by 
pliu'iii;^'  liiinsolf  under  the.  i)i()l(^<',|,i(>ii  of  liiiiiuu'iilulo 
Miiry."  Tliis  piotiuitioii  is  ii<!(!(!ssa,ry,  thinks  tli(!  ?nis- 
sioniiry  ;  for,  in  passing'  down  a  furious  rnpid,  liurlttd 
by  tho  inip(ituous  str<ani,  llui  burk  canoe  strikes  a  tioo- 
truidv  cau^bt  tbeic,  by  IIk;  roc^ks,  is  broken  in  two,  and 
they,  its  i'rei;^ht,  strnf^';j;h!  as  they  may  in  tlie  white 
foaniiii}^  wa,t(!rs.  All  i^ri  saft^,  aM.houj^li  well  wejiried 
lUid  drenche.d,  to  shor(!.  As  for  tho  two  ()l)lat(!H, 
^^ Marie  liinn(iriili'v,lenr  iiii<iitslr,  mere  ni'llliut  smi.-i  i-vsnc  sur 
kiirn  JoiirN, — Mary  Iinniacuhito,  th(Mi'  au^Mist  Jlotlior, 
watclHid  C(!ase,l()SHly  ove-r  thciir  lives.'"  At  the  last 
mission,  two  years  bcifon^  six  linndnid  and  twenty-livo 
savai^es  had  I'orswoi'u  whiskey;  at  this  mission,  tlitiy 
find,  to  their  sorrow,  that  <>iir  has  once  broken  his  })l()d{^(3. 
llvvv.,  anionj^  the  Abbitibbi,  in  a  family  of  distin- 
guished liuutiii'S  and  braves,  only  the  old  motluir  had 
remained  resolutely  pagan.  This  time  she  asked  for 
baptism.  All  the  long  interval  since  the  last  visit,  she 
u.id  "  dreamed,"  as  the  ludiaiis  ciill  it,  and  had  made 
up  her  mind  to  follow  her  children.  "Ah,  Father," 
she  said,"  "1  was  very  wretched  until  the  CJr(!dt  Spirit 
took  j)ity  upou  me.  Since  the  Jlhtck-rohc.  warned  me 
of  the  danger  of  remaining  as  I  was,  I  havt)  had  no 
rest.  Often,  while  ashiep,  I  seemed  to  Ije  faUiiig  into 
the  gulf.  Then  when  I  awaked,  I  promis(;d  the  Great 
Spirit  to  obey  the  counsels  of  the  Black-robe ;  but  as 


'  Aunales,  xviii.  454. 


«  Ibii. 


36G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


M 


IMl'l  I 


i; 


mmw 


oftou  tlio  Mt(i'/ii-)nanifou  (tlio  evil  spirit)  conquered  me. 
Whenever  I  looked  at  the  holy  (jtudns  of  pniyer  (tlio 
Rosary,  or  at  the  blessed  face  of  Mar}'  on  the  medal 
round  my  children's  necks,  I  was  troul)led.  l>ut,  all 
the  last  year  I  have  lived  with  my  eldest  son,  and 
every  day  ivc  counted  the  hohj  grains  (f  pntijer  together, 
and  it  did  good  to  my  heart,  and  I  yearned  for  bap- 
tism. Ah,  how  long  the  year  seemed !  '  Will  the 
Black  rolje  never  come  ?'  I  said.  *  He  might  have  pitj 
on  me,'  This  was  all  I  thought  of  through  the  sad 
winter.  And  when  my  son  set  out  for  Killii  Kami 
(Hudson's  Bay),  I  prayed  him  to  write  you.  Here  is 
his  letter.  Now  you,  my  Father,  are  following  hiiu. 
You  will  see  him  at  Abbitibbi,  and  will  tell  him  that 
his  ^xiother  is  a  Christian." 

Some  U.'mporal  comfort  the  missionary  finds  in  those 
desolate  regions.  Sir  George  Simpson  builds  him  a 
church. 

About  tlio  same  time,  another  Oblate  of  Mary  Im- 
maculate, in  Northern  Oregon,  is  in  the  snow-camp  of 
the  Yakama.  There  pains  and  miseries,  physical  ami 
mental,  cold  and  starvation,  and  sorrow  over  hard 
hearts,  fall  on  hun,  ho  thinks,  "  liko  hail  on  a  springing 
plant."  So  he  calls  his  mission  "  Holy  Cross ;"  and 
bears  his  lesser  crosses  more  cheerfully,  in  remem- 
brance of  tliat.  The  petty  chieftain  Ydhno  Snake  is  his 
grand  enemy.  Whenever  he  calls  the  better  s(n't  to 
the  prayer.  Yellow  Snake  gathers  his  pagans  in  a 
neighboring  wigwam,  and  there  holds  infernal  revel- 
ries.   Yellow  Snake's  devil  is  nearly  as  clever  at  inveu- 


.  Mary 


IN  North  America. 


307 


lii'it)  conquered  mo. 

'idns  of  priiycr  (the 

Mary  on  the  iiietlal 

trovibletl.    But,  uU 

[uy  chlcst  son,  aiul 

,'  of  prayer  togotlusr, 

I  yearned  for  bap- 

^cemed!     'Will  the 

Ho  might  have  pity 

of  througli  the  sad 

out  for  KUhi  Kami 

write  you.    Hero  is 

,  are  following  him. 

id  will  tell  him  that 

iouary  finds  in  those 
lupson  builds  him  a 

Oblate  of  Mary  Im- 
,n  the  snow-eamp  of 
liscries,  physical  and 
sorrow    over  hard 
hail  on  a  springing 
"Holy  Cross;"  and 
ecrfully,  in  remeui- 
1  Ydhio  Snake  is  his 
s  the  better  sort  to 
•s  his  pagans  in  a 
olds  infernal  rcvel- 
[y  as  clever  at  inven- 


tion as  the  devil  of  Doctor  Brownleo,  or  of  the  leas 
iutolligcnt  American  antipapists.  "  The  ]>l.ick-robe," 
quoth  Yellow  Snalve,  "  catches  rattlesnakes,  and,  by  hir 
encliantmi^nts,  makes  them  vomit  a  black  poison  upon 
our  tobacco.     He  will  soon  kill  us  all."' 

To  this  is  iiddcd  accusation  of  producing  all  the  sick- 
ness, fever,  gastritis,  a  case  or  so  of  small-pox.  The 
cold  is  so  intense  that  wild  animals  are  scarcely  to  bo 
found.  Snmetinnis  the  ponio.v  are  frozen  to  death 
when  out  hunting  ;  but,  upon  the  whole,  ll/<i('  is  a  kind 
of  blessing,  for  then  tlui}-  eat  the  pony.  Qui-  Oblate  of 
Mary  thanks  God  that  he  still  has  (January  12, 18-10;  in 
bis  ice-larder  oiii;  doij  and  lico  dead  wolves,  which  agreo- 
ahle  provision  he  hopes  will  last  until  milder  weather, 
when,  perha[)S,  "  Our  dear  Lord  will  have  pity  on  us, 
and  send  us  s<mie  bear  or  deer."  Meantime,  he  in- 
structs many,  bapti/es  the  children,  attends  the  dying, 
buries  the  dead.  The  medicine-man  falls  into  dis- 
leimte,  but  does  not  give  up  yet.  "  Do  you  see  that 
cabin,  with  the  white  cross  on  it?" — such  is  one  of 
Yellow  Snake's  harangues.  "  That  is  the  soui'ce  of  our 
misery :  oiit  of  that  the  Black-robe  sends  iis  death  ;  ho 
is  kiUing  us  all  by  his  prayer,  his  words,  and  his  medi- 
cine-water (baptism).  Burn  down  his  cabin  and  cut 
liis  head  oil',  and  I  promise  to  cure  all  your  maladies." 
But  Father  Chirouse  trusts  in  God,  and  hopes  that  he 
sball  welcome  death  joyfully  for  the  cause  of  Jesus 
Christ. 


ABnales^  xxiii.  76 


8(58 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V    M.uiy 


i 


r*;* 


It  is  truu  thiit  \V(;t'iil  tulen  of  tlchtitulion  jiiul  siifVor- 
iug  coimi  in  from  tlio  Nc/pt'iccis,  the  Cuyoii.s«;s,  aiul  tho 
Flatheuds,  tliiit  thi'ir  stock  is  purislun^^  uiidor  tlio 
suows,  uml  tliuir  lodges  full  of  sickness ;  that  tlicro  U 
eight  feet  of  snow  at  the  mission  of  the  Immaculiito 
Couc(f})tion ;  but  all  this  does  not  brt.'ak  down  tho 
Oblate  of  Mary,  nor  even  take  the  sweet  rreiich  guyoty 
out  of  his  heart,  nor  oU'  his  pen.  lias  he  not  a  pautry 
full  of  choice  provisions?  A  dog  and  two  defunct 
W  xVes!  IIo  acknowledges  that  the  climate  is  rather 
cool  for  the  condition  of  his  wardrobe  ;  and  that  when 
his  ragged  ami  only  cassock  fell  to  piectss  at  last,  the 
"wind  that  swee])S  those  frozen  solitudes,  bit  him  nioro 
keenly  than  he  relished. 

"  So  I  cut  out  a  new  cassock  from  a  tine  tl!i"V 
blanket,  and  tlyed  it  in  the  juice  of  the  corn-bloom. 
Tho  color  produced  being  a  lively  violet,  I  funcieil 
myself  a  bishop  ;  but  tho  first  time  I  Avas  caught  iu 
the  rain,  the  violet  all  washed  out,  and  my  cassock  was 
as  white  as  the  Pope's.  A  poor  pope  I,  for  I  lost  my 
only  needle,  and  could  find  no  other  in  all  ni}  t^uirimil 
palace.  But  I  took  tho  head  oil'  a  big  pin  and  niado 
it  into  a  kind  of  needle,  with  which  I  have  mended  the 
old  cassock.  Do  not  mock  at  my  needle ;  she  is 
coarse,  but  solid  ;  it  is  true  that  she  bends  oftencr  thau 
I  could  desire,  but  then  sho  never  breaks."  ' 

An  ingenious  man,  you  say.  True,  but  not  more  so 
than  his   brother  Oblato  of    IMary,   Father  Earainl; 


>  Anuales,  xxiii.  79. 


:js.—-" 


M.UIY 

titiitiou  anil  suft'or- 
t)  Cuyo\isi;s,  uikI  i\n) 
Drbsliiii^f   uuiU'f  tlu) 
Uucss  ;  that  then;  is 
of  tho  Imuuuailato 
jt   bn.'ak   down  tho 
isvcut  ricnch  f^ayoty 
[las  ho  not  a  pautvy 
)«'  anil  two   det'uuct 
lio  cliinato  is  rather 
•obo  ;  and  that  wlicu 
to  pieces  at  hist,  the 
iitndes,  bit  him  moro 

iVoni   a  (hio  W^A 
of   tho  coin-bloom. 
3ly  violet,  I   fancied 
Lino  I  Avas  caught  in 
and  my  cassock  was 
mpo  I,  for  I  lost  my 
[er  in  all  my  Qniriual 
a  big  pin  and  nuulo 
Ih  I  have  mcndt;d  the 
my  noodlo;   she  is 
lo  bends  oftencr  thiiu 
breaks." ' 
Irue,  but  not  more  so 
Iry,   Father  Faraml, 


IN  North  Amektca. 


3G9 


whoso  boat  is  about  Lake  Athabascia,  and  tlumco  nortli- 
ward.  Ho  has  mado  himself  a  litth»  box  which  hohls 
broad  and  wino,  a  vestment,  altar  liiuni,  tho  chalieo 
and  tlio  stono,  overy  tiling,  indeed,  needed  for  tho 
adorable  sacrilico,  and,  when  tho.  box  is  opened,  and 
its  double  cover  arranged,  it  forms,  ho  thinks,  a  very 
decent  littlo  altar.  Another  box  contaiihs  a  neat  tout 
of  seven  feet  by  fivo  in  base,  which  covers  his  altar ; 
tho  body  of  his  church  is  tho  forest,  the  praiii(>,  tho 
river-bank.  Ho  must  know,  if  possible,  the  Mou- 
tagnais,  a  dialect  of  Algonquin.  Ho  studies  it  through 
the  medium  of  tho  Cree,  and  this  hv-  iiccpiires  from  an 
old  blind  Indian  Avho  knows  no  Frent-h.  Tho  process 
is  not  detailed,  but  tho  result  is  that  ho  can  catechizo, 
at  least,  in  four  or  five  months. 

It  was  this  samo  Oblate,  Father  Fiirand,  who  built 
tho  church  at  Athabasca.  Tho  Scots  commandant,  a 
Protestant,  of  tho  post,  gave  tho  place  and  all  the 
material  but  the  wood.  The  priest  cut  that  down  in 
the  forests  with  his  own  hands.  Then  tlie  commandant 
had  it  brought  to  the  place  and  sawed.  So  the  frame- 
work soon  arose,  and  tho  reverend  Oblate's  own 
fingers  made  the  absolutely  necessary  furniture,  the 
tables  and  benches,  as  well  as  the  doors  twid  window 
frames.  Two  years  alone  at  this  place ;  never  seeing 
a  coreligionist  except  his  poor  Indians,  ho  never  lost 
courage,  nor  regretted  his  self-sacrifice  for  Mary.' 

As  with  the  priests,  so  with  the  bishop.     We  saw  the 

'  Annales,  xxiv.  223-237. 
Z  16* 


370 


Pkvotton  to  the  B.  v.  ^Fary 


i\- 


(Icpnvturc  of  M()iiM(i;,Mioui'  rrovciiclior  for  tlio  Bet- 
ter Lund  ;  let  \\h  look  ai  ]\\h  HUcccHsor,  ISronsci^iuMir 
Alcxiiiulcr  Tiu'lii''.  Ifc!  iH  \vTitiii;j;  to  tlid  V(Mi('r)il)lo 
Bisliop  of  iMiirscillcH,  Superior  Clciuinil  of  llu!  OMatos 
of  iNriiry.  Tie  liiis  viHitrd  Hie  stulioiis  of  Suiiit  Anijo 
and  Our  TjkIv  of  Victorioa,  iind  is  scltin^  forfli  from 
Saint  nonit'.icf  to  (Vohr  Island,  north  latitiidi*  51°. 
Tlio  date  is  Pchiimry  iV/tli.  L(!t  us  Kee  liow  this 
bisliop  luiukes  }iis  visitntionH.' 

"Our  small  otruvtui  waH  ct)nii)rised  uh  follows :  two 
I\Iontaj;iiais  Indians,  Avitji  fiiins  on  their  shoidders  ami 
hatehets  in  tliiii-  hands,  caeh  drawing  a  snudl  sledf^'o, 
upon  Avliicli  was  their  store  of  provisions,  and  "weariii}:; 
hiY'^o  siiow-shoi'S,  oj)oned  tho  wa}',  and,  in  ease  of 
need,  nunoved  anv  insni'niountable  ohstruetion;  behind 
them  plodded  your  hund)le  scu'vant,  provided  with 
suow'-sliot\s  somewhat  snniUer,  on  ueeount  of  the;  weiik- 
uess  of  his  legs;  next  camo  four  of  the  liin'sr  dogs  of 
tho  country,  drawiu''  a  sled'''e  four  ftuit  six  inehcs 
brmid  by  six  feet  and  a  lialf  in  length,  iipon  which 
were  attached  my  culinary  apparatus,  my  b(  d,  ward- 
robe, chapel,  provisions,  as  well  as  the  ('H'ects  of  a  yoniig 
iialf-breed,  who  cIoschI  tho  procession,  and  who  hail 
charge  of  the  dog-.^  and  the  sledg(!.  This  arrangeniont 
was  a  little  disturbed  the  very  first  day,  since  the  kiiul- 
hearted  M.  Di^schambault,  a  nuunber  of  the  Honorable 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  would  have  nn;  placed  under 
tlio  guidance  of  one  of  their  servants.     The  latter  was 

'  Annales,  xvi.  113,  et  seq.     Bultimoro;  Amoricau  edition. 


Taut 

lior  for  tho  Bct- 
isor,  MoMHci'jimMir 
to  tlio  V(Mi('n\l)l(» 
mil  of  tlid  OMiitcs 
)iiH  of  Saint  Anno 
scltin^  forth  fi<»iii 
„ith  l:iti(u(l(<  51°. 
lis   Ki'u   how  this 

i«(l  tiH  follows  :  two 
lu'ir  shoulders  and 
ini^'  !i  small  sUnl^'o, 
isions,  and  wcariii;^ 
y,  and,   in    case   of 
)l)stiii('iion;  boliind 
Lilt,   ])rovidi'd    with 
•count  of  tln^  ^voak- 
tho  foH'st  do^H  of 
ir   f(<<!t   si>;   inclicH 
^Ih,  upon  which 
us,  niv  1><  d,  wava- 
clVoctsof  a  young 
(.11,   and  who  had 
This  arrani^cinunt 
;iy,  siM('(!  the  land- 
V  of  tho  llonorahlo 
luo  placed  under 
ts.     Tlu!  latter  was 


IN  NoilTII  AMKHiriA. 


871 


rn 


l( 


American  edition. 


provided  with  excellent  do^s,  80  that  T  felt  lisposed  to 
avail  myself  of  tho  oH'er,  and  hushand  my  strenj,dh. 
This  la/y  project  was,  however,  speedily  ahnndoned. 
Ill  tlie  afternoon,  the  do;;H,  not  nnuth  accnst^tnied  to 
fjdi;,'ne,  found  that  the  honoralilo  load  which  th(>y  wore 
draf^f^in;^  alon^jf  was  too  Insavy  for  them  ;  T  was  couko- 
nuently  oltli<^'(l  to  dismiMint,  put  on  my  snow  shoes, 
and  tread  iIo'aii  the  snow  heforo  Jiiy  enl"(  cltlid  steedy, 
a  necessary  hilmr  for  the  I'oHowin;^  .  iif  ihuj-. 

"To  ])itch  our  rude  camp  ere  th<'  nij^diti'all,  tlm  firKt 
thiitf^  of  coursf^  necc^ssary,  is  to  move  away  the  loose 
Bnow.  For  this,  tho  snow-shoes  servo  the  jiurpose  of 
shovels,  and  tho  ice-bound  surface  beneath  is  then 
cov(!red  with  fir  })ran(rhos.  At  tho  sann^  time,  the 
M'f^orous  axe  is  actively  oii^'a<.^ed  in  decinifitin;,^  the 
forest  trees.  Their  pj^antic  trunks  ar(!  severed  in 
jU'ofusifni,  tho  stool  (units  tho  lon^if-desired  sparh,  tie 
tino  carpet  of  over^ecius,  whicli  has  n^jdaca'd  the  rn(nv, 
iuvitcs  the  travellers  to  take  possession  of  their  new 
abode;  each  ono  placets  himself  by  the  fire  to  satisfy 
tho  most  imperative  want — that  of  narming  his  limbs, 
hon'.nnbed  with  cold;  some  time  is  silent  in  rubbing 
tho  chiu,  the  ehecdcs,  and  tho  nose,  to  restore  tho  cir- 
culation of  the  blood  ;  and  when  tho  lips  have  ])een 
restored  to  their  natural  suppleness,  the  impressions 
received  and  the  adventures  of  tho  day  are  dis- 
cussed." 

And  so  on,  day  after  day,  over  tho  cold  wastes  plods 
tho  holy  Oblate  of  Mary :  now  and  then  stopphig  at  a 
post  of  the  Hoii.  Company  to  confirm,  baptize,  or  cele- 


■  '.■?>.■'»■ 


372 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


brate  tlio  divine  myHteries.  One  post  tlie  good  bishop 
is  sorry  to  place  under  the  care  of  the  nearest  priest, 
because  lie  has  no  assistant ;  the  resiclenee  of  +hat 
nearest  priest  being  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from 
this  station.  Then  the  poor  savages  are  nearly  all 
pagans  still,  Th(\y  have  theft,  murder,  drunkenness, 
the  lowest  (h'[ith  of  moral  degradation,  for  their  in- 
veterate habits.  Crecs  make  war  upon  Sauteux,  As- 
siniboins,  Ne/-Perccs,  IJlack-Feet,  Blood-Eaters.  Here 
and  there  only  a  (!^liristian  family  could  be  found ;  suf- 
fering, but  always  faithful. 

"  Help !  help !"  cries  the  devoted  prelate  to  his 
friends  in  France.  "What  a  vast  field  is  here  !  What 
an  abundant  harvest !  It  is  true  that  it  ap])<\ars  far 
from  being  ripe ;  but  the  dew  of  celestial  gra(  is  so 
fructifnng  and  powerful,  the  rays  of  the  sun  of  justice 
so  vivifying,  that  they  may  ripen  it  before  the  period 
assigned  by  human  calculation.  The  gi'eat  desidera- 
tum is  more  priests.  Young  Oblates,  my  brothers  and 
fiiends,  cast,  I  entreat  you,  your  regards  in  this  direc- 
tion. In  consecrating  yourselves  to  God,  in  renoun- 
cing all  worldly  enjoyments,  you  took  for  your  device 
these  expressive  words  :  '  Evamjclizare  pmiperihns  mtsit 
me  Deufi :  God  hath  sent  me  to  evangelize  the  poor." 
May  your  zeal  be  exercised  here,  and  may  you  be  one 
day  enabled  to  exclaim,  M'ith  exultation,  '  Faiiprrci' 
cva7}<jrJh:(niti(r !  The  poor  have  the  Gospel  preached 
to  them."    As  a  recompense  for  your  generosity,  I 


'  St.  Luko'B  Gospel,  iv.  18. 


3  Ibid.,  vii.  33. 


'.  Mary 

ost  tlio  good  bisliop 
I  tlio  iioavest  priosfc, 
D  rosiclenco  of  tliat 
and  fifty  miloH  horn 
ages  arc  nearly  all 
;uvder,  druiiluMUioss, 
dation,  f(n-  tlicir  in- 
•  npon  Sauteux,  As- 
]31ood-Eatcvs.  Here 
could  be  found  ;  siif- 

'oted   predate   to  his 
field  is  here !    Wluit 
B  that  it  ap]itvars  far 
'  celestial  gra<      is  so 
of  the  sun  of  justice 
a  before  the  period 
The  great  desid(>ra- 
tes,  my  brothers  and 
regards  in  this  direc- 
to  God,  in  renouii- 
took  for  your  device 
nrc  paitpcrihns  vusd 
ivangehze  the  poor." 
and  may  you  be  one 
iXultatioTi,   'Faupmit 
the  Gospel  preached 
,r  your  generosity,  I 


IN  North  America. 


373 


«  Ibid.,  vii.  23 


cannot  promise  you  either  wealth,  pleoaurcs,  or  honors ; 
I  know  that  jowv  generous  hearts  despise  them.  I 
cannot  even  assure  you  that  you  will  always  experi- 
ence those  sensible  joys  that  sometimes  accompany 
the  exercise  of  tho  sacred  ministry  :  the  Avork  which  is 
here  confided  to  us  is  ojio  of  devotedness  and  self- 
abnegation.  Jesus  alone  will  be  your  recompense,  as 
He  aluno  is  the  end  of  your  labors.  It  is  always  a 
sufficient  happiness  to  find  only  God,  when  H(^  is  the 
only  object  of  our  desires." 

Some  consolations,  nevertheless,  there  are.  At  Fort 
Augustus  seventeen  were  confirmed ;  in  another  place 
twenly-two  adults  i.aptized;  and  at  Our  Lady  of  Vic- 
tories, a  moisting  Avith  the  yoimg  Oblate,  Eatluu'  Romas. 
Ho  had  been  hero  iowr  months  onh',  sneering  much. 
At  his  first  coming,  says  the  bishop,  "lie  had  no 
liouse,  and  the  season  Avas  too  far  adA'anced  to  think 
of  building  one  ;  a  man  of  the  country  gladly  offered 
liini  his.  This  habitaticm  is  about  thirteen  feet  square, 
and  six  and  a  half  high.  It  Avas  in  this  den  that  your 
poor  child  first  made,  liimsclf  acquainted  with  our 
mode  of  life ;  this  was  also  tho  episcopal  palace  that 
lie  had  to  offer  me,  and  which  I  willingly  accepted. 
The  onlv  seat  it  contained,  the  decaved  trunk  of  "' 
tree,  served  as  my  tlirou(>,  and  I  found  it  perfectly 
ada[)ted  to  my  condition  as  a  missicniary  1  i^llop, 
Here,  as  els(>where,  I  had  no  Avovldly  enjoyments, 
which  I  do  not  desire;  but  I  found  the  inexhaustible 
treasure  of  tho  consolations  Avhich  Divine  goodness  is 
pleased  to  bestow  with  a  boimtiful  hand  upon  thos« 


374 


Devotion  to  tite  B.  V.  Mary 


:■■'% 


who  labor  for  Ilis  gl<n'y.  Tho  Lalco  of  Our  Lady  of 
Victoriiis  is  tlio  finest  I  have  seen  in  ibc^so  r('<i;i()jis. 
May  tho  Diviiio  Protectress,  to  whose  patronaj^e  it  is 
coufi(hHl,  mala'  it  the  centre  of  a  flourish iiij^^  Diission!" 

Before  separating,  jx^rliaps  forever  in  this  wrrld,  tlio 
bisho])  has  a  house  hnilt  for  the  young  Oblate  of  tho 
Immaoulato  ]M()ther. 

"  On  th(!  1st  of  May,  Our  Lady';;  own  peculiar 
mouth,  after  a  Mass  which  I  oflVnvhl  up  to  obtain  tlio 
protection  of  tho  most  IToly  Vii'gin  in  favor  of  our  en- 
terprise, we  proceeded,  with  a  troop  of  nit^i  of  good- 
will, to  tho  ]>la.co  selected  ff)r  the  mis  mou.  One  of  onr 
pretty  Indian  canticles,  in  honor  of  our  good  Mother, 
was  iho  prelude  to  our  labors,  whieli  I  commenced 
myself,  by  felHiig  the  first  tree.  I  then  (mgaged  work- 
men to  constiTiot,  as  soon  as  possible,  a  hous(> ;  audi 
trust  that  tho  Father  has  already  been  (>nab](,>d  to  es- 
tablish in  it  his  penates.  On  the  8tli  of  May,  in  the 
morning,  I  took  leave  of  him.  You  can  scarcely  im- 
agine what  were  my  feelings  when  giving  him  iny 
blessing  and  end)racing  him.  Alas !  poor  missionary, 
alone,  in  tin;  depths  of  the  forest,  upon  the  banks  of 
the  cold  lake,  among  a  people  of  whose  language  he 
knows  but  a  few  words ;  far,  very  far,  from  tlu!  beauti- 
ful France^,  from  his  beloved  family,  without  l)eing  ny- 
sociated  even  with  one  of  tho  numerous  br(>thren  whom 
lie  has  adopted  in  his  religious  profession!  "What 
noble  devotedness !  what  admirable  generosity !  0 
holy  religion !  what  power  hast  tluni  over  the  human 
heart,  since  thou  art  enabled  to  break  asunder  at  the 


Mary 


IN  North  America. 


375 


oi  Our  Lady  of 
in  tlioso  rof^ions. 
o  patronaf^o  it  is 
i-iHliiiig  mission!" 

in  tliis  wrvld,  tlio 
Oblat''  of  the 


ung 


[y''j   own   p(^cniliar 
np  to  obtain  tlio 
in  favor  of  oin-  en- 
)  of  men  of  good- 
8sion.     Ono  of  our 
our  good  Mother, 
inch  I  connnoncod 
hen  engaged  work- 
)\c,  a  hous(>, ;  and  I 
)een  enalded  to  os- 
8tli  of  May,  in  tlie 
lU  can  scarcely  iin- 
n   giving  him  my 
!  poor  nussionnry, 
iipon  the  hanks  of 
Ivhose  hvngnago  he 
ir,  from  the  bc^iuti- 
withont  l)eing  as- 
tons  l)rethren  whom 
profession !    AVhat 
(le   generosity!     0 
)U  ov(n'  the  human 
■oak  asunder  at  the 


aamo  time  tho  ties  of  nature  and  those  fornKul  by 
hahit!  At  thy  call  he  forgc^ts  every  thing,  mindful 
only  of  his  divine  Model,  who,  in  order  to  savo  ua, 
withdrew,  so  to  speak,  from  the  bliss  of  Paradise,  and 
wrested  himself  from  the  ineffable  embraces  of  his  ce- 
lestial Father." 

Sometimes,  however,  as  indeed  is  always  tho  rule  iii 
this  world,  tho  darkest  hour  is  the  hour  before  tho  - 
dawn ;  and  pleasure  comes  from  tliat  which  threatened 
pain.     Our  Oblates  are  chictly  Frenchmen  ;  and  many 
a  thing  in  th(i  Western  wilds  appears  s.-i-vagci  and  per- 
ilous to   those  who   issue  from  tho  old  civilizations, 
which  is  a  matter  of  indifference  to  the  trained  Ameri- 
can.   Besides,  if  they  only  imagine  danger,  t^ie  pain  of 
that  is  quite  as  great  to  them  as  any  sense  of  I't^idjty. 
Only  very  stupid  people  laugh  at  imagined  griefs  ;  not 
that  tho  grief  is  less,  but  that  the  mocker  lacks  in  him- 
self the  quality  that  caused  it.     When  Fatlu'r  d'JTer- 
bomez,  an  Oblate  of  IMary,  in  Oregon,  hjst  his  way 
somewhere  between  that  territory  and  Northern  Cali- 
fornia, his  position  was  not  a  comic  one.     "  It  was  a 
case,"  he  says,  "for  trying  tho  divining  rod.     I  said  a 
'Hail  Mary,'  and  threw  th(>  reins  iipon  the  neck  of  my 
mule.    At  one  time,  I  began  to  fear  the  Blessed  Virgin 
had  not  heard  my  prayer.     I  had  already  been  going 
at  a  sla])ping  pace  for  some  time,  and  yet  saw  nothing 
of  our  friends  ;  when,  suddenly,  I  came  upon  a  sort  of 
village,  consisting  of  some  twenty  huts,  out  of  which 
streamed  men,  Avonien,  and  children,  carrying  in  their 
bands  some  sort  of  insti-uments,  I  knew  not  what,  and 


■J 


37G 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mahy 


coming  towjirdn  mo.  Tlu\y  wore  bliuik  ;  MfUilau'  tlian 
any  oonl ;  Iho  wliito  of  tlicir  vyo.n  and  of  tlicir  tvotli 
soomod  ;dl  tho  more  sinking,  and  gavo  tluMii,  in  Initli, 
a  sinisti'i*  asjxu^t.  T  was  soon  sniTonndcul  \)y  them. 
Now,  yvvi  soo,  I  was  not  yd  nsed  to  this  sort  of  tiling; 
tho  ulca  (hat  thcso  folks  might  turn  out  to  ho  antlno- 
pojdiagi  mad(!  mo  I'ool  what  I  would  ratluu-  not  ox- 
pross.  'J'o  Ix)  oaton  before  I  had  ovon  roachod  iiij 
post,  ap^vijirod  to  mo  somowhat  promaturc;,  to  say  the 
l(!ast  of  it;  so  I  assumed  as  bold  a  tone  as  I  could,  ami 
asked  my  way.  Tho  only  n>ply  I  got  was  simply  n 
horso-laugh.  I  was  on  tho  point  of  repealing  my 
question,  when  those  on  my  right  hand  uttered  a  shout 
of  joy,  repeating  in  their  language  a  savage  word 
whieh  I  did  not  undeistand.  Tho}'^  liad  evidently 
made  a  discove'y  of  sonu^thing  that  pleased  them,  for 
they  claj)ped  their  hands  with  great  glee, 

"  The  ehief  now  approaehed  mo.  IIo  was  distin- 
guished from  the  rest  l)y  tho  superior  manner  in  whicli 
he  was  tattooed  on  the  I'aoe  and  over  the  rest  of  Lis 
bod}'.  Strings  of  beads,  formed  of  human  te(>tli,  were 
suspended  from  his  ears  and  neck.  He  made  signs 
for  mo  to  dismount,  and  I  felt  by  no  moans  at  ease ; 
resistance,  however,  was  out  of  the  qu(!stion ;  so,  with- 
out more  ado,  I  commended  myself  to  God  and  to  our 
tender  Motlujr." 

After  all,  they  wore  onl}''  glad  to  see  him,  these  wild 
men.  They  made  him  smoke  the  calumet,  and  he 
found,  on  trial,  that  some  of  them  spoke  a  little  Euj,^- 
lish.     It  was  tho  sight  of  the  missionary  cross  uuder 


^ 


•fmmaem^'- 


IN  NouTn  America. 


377 


to  seo  him,  tlicso  wild 

the  calumet,  ami  lie 

Ln  s])oko  a  little  Eug- 

InissioTiary  cross  iiuder 


his  cloak  that  made  tliom  glad,  tlioy  Raid.  Tlioii  ho 
fiiiw  a  (!oum1o  of  cliildicn  witli  our  dctar  Lady's  Scapu- 
liir  and  medal  round  t1»(!ir  neckH ;  and  finally,  ho  dis- 
covered that  tvvo-thinls  of  theia  wore  Christians.' 

Fatlier  Ih'unet  also,  at  La  Cross(5,  IFiidson's  Bay,  in 
1857,  has  hi.s  consolations.  Lot  him  tell  ns  a  story  or 
so  of  Mary's  rcMl  children  at  Ilo  La  Crosse,  Hudson's 
15ay.  One  year,  ^vhiKi  giving  his  mission,  lie  was 
shuck  hy  the  perfect,  biiauliful  serenity  of  one  faco. 
It  was  the  face  of  a  girl  of  seventecsn,  and  vvh<!n  ho 
asked  her  name,  she  tokl  him  it  was  Augehi.'  "  Nciver," 
he  tells  VIS,  "  was  name  more  ai)j)roi)riate."  WIksu  tho 
mission  svas  ovvv,  she,  })erishing  already  Avith  decline, 
followed  h(!r  family  to  tlu!  forests.  With  them  sho 
moved  about  from  })la{!e  to  place;,  as  tlu^ir  needs  rc- 
(|uii(!d,  suil'ering  always,  and  always  patient,  daily 
growing  feebler  ;  fading  daily  as  the  forest  leaves  fade 
when  the  fall  comes  on. 

So  she  lived  on  till  Mary's  month  of  INIay.  Her 
parcuts  always  expected  her  to  die,  and  told  her  ot 
tlioir  ap[)relu!nsi<)ns.  But  she  said,  "No:  not  before 
she  should  attiMul  another  mission."  This  was  hor 
only  prayer.  As  if  she  said  with  the  poet-king,  "  Ono 
thing  have  I  desired  of  tho  Lord,  and  will  seek  to  ob- 
tain:  that  I  may  once  more  behold  tho  delight  of  the 
Lord,  and  nniy  visit  His  temple."  '  And  her  swoot 
purity  of  lifo  obtained  this  favor  for  her.     But  when 


'  AnnalcH,  xvii.  1.18.  '  Ibid.,  xxx.  74. 

'  Unain  imlii  a  Domino,  hnnc  roquiram  ;    ut  ''idouui  volcptatem 
Domjai  ct  visitom  tuaiplum  Ejus. — P.salm  xxvi.  ^.. 


378 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


sho  reached  La  Crosse,  she  was  no  longer  able  to  at- 
tend tlio  puulic  services.  But  she  told  the  Oblatu  of 
Mary,  "  I  know  that  I  should  see  you  again,  I  liud 
asked  that  so  earnestly  from  God.  My  parents  said 
that  I  must  die.  But  I  told  tliem,  '  Yes,  wlieu  I  should 
arrive  here.'  "  She  only  wanted  one  thing  more,  tliis 
Indian  Angela,  to  partake  of  the  Food  of  Angels  ;  and 
on  Wliit-Suiiday  her  yearning  was  gratified.  The 
priest  told  her  she  was  gomg,  and  spoke  to  her  only  of 
the  joys  of  the  eternal  home. 

And  so,  on  the  next  Sunday  morning,  he  weut  to 
give  her  the  Sacrament  of  Extreme  Unction.  He 
thought  she  slept,  but  it  Avas  her  agony,  only  so  gentle 
that  it  seemed  like  sleep.  He  spoke  to  her,  und  slio 
opened  her  eyes.  He  gave  her  the  crucifix,  and  «ho 
kissed  it,  saying,  "Jesus,  have  mercy  on  me  !  Help  mo, 
my  Mother  Mary  !"  The  missionary  thought  that  she 
would  last  through  the  night ;  yet,  as  he  turned  away 
to  leave  her,  he  could  not  help  saying,  "  May  the 
angels  conduct  thee  into  Paradise," '  and,  as  he  spoko, 
she  passed  away.  For  God  had  heard  the  last  piayer 
of  the  Oblate  of  Mary,  and  the  angels  came  from 
heaven,  and  took  the  soul  of  their  Sister  Angela  to 
its  rest. 

In  the  same  tribe  lived  the  good  old  chieftain  Em- 
manuel, who,  too  feeble  to  go  out  for  the  chase,  em- 
ployed his  leisure  in  searching  the  forest  for  the  cbil' 
dren  of  his  nation,  and  teaching  them  the  catechism  ; 


Ordo  Commcudationis  Auiiuis. 


V.  Mary 


IN  North  America, 


379 


o  longer  able  to  at- 
e  told  the  Oblatu  of 
JO  you  again,  I  had 
1.  My  parents  said 
'  Yes,  when  I  should 
one  thing  more,  this 
i'ood  of  Angels  ;  and 
rt'as  gratified.  The 
spoke  to  her  only  of 


norning,  lie  weut  to 
;rcme   Unction.     He 
Ligony,  only  so  gentle 
poke  to  her,  and  she 
the  crucifix,  and  sho 
cy  on  nie  !    Help  me, 
ary  thought  that  she 
t,  as  he  turned  away 
1  saying,  "  May  the 
," '  and,  as  he  spoke, 
heard  the  last  prayer 
e  angels  came  from 
leir  Sister  Angela  to 


xl  old  chieftain  Em- 
t  for  the  chase,  cm- 
le  forest  for  the  chil- 
them  the  catechism  ; 


I 


Aulina). 


and  so  the  savarjc  peoples  the  desert  with  now  children 
of  Cfod.  And  then  there  is  our  young  friend  Henry, 
idolized  by  his  tribe,  and  followed  by  aU  in  whom  the 
instinct  of  self-devotion  has  been  cultivated.  He 
Avrites,  on  one  occasion,  "  My  father,  I  rcincmhcr  the 
Prayer.  I  keep  myself  altogether  for  God  and  you.  1 
want  to  go  to  heaven ;  Father,  pray  for  me.  When 
you  read  this  letter,  you  will  read  my  heart.  I  have 
hunted  successfully ;  I  have  many  furs :  I  do  not 
love  them ;  I  lovo  God.  I  t(dl  you.  Father,  in  mine 
integrity^  I  tell  you  that  I  lovo  only  God,  and 
that  land  which  is  above,  and  that  I  may  be  pre- 
served for  that  land  and  for  my  good  God,  I  pray 
to  my  Angel,  and,  above  all,  to  Mary,  SAveet  Mother 
of  God." 

But  the  lives  of  the  Oblates,  like  those  of  other  men, 
arc  made  up  of  alternations  ;  if  wo  ha"\'o  just  seen  our 
Lady  Mary  as  Health  of  the  Feel)le,  as  Protectress,  as 
puissant  over  the  rude  savages,  avo  must  also  see  her 
as  "  CoiiHolatr'ix  Affruiormn,  the  Consoler  of  the  Af- 
flicted." Go  itp  then,  Avith  Father  Grandin,  to  the 
Oblate  Mission  of  Our  Liuly  of  SorroAvs,  north  of  Lake 
Athabasca.  Let  him  give  another  sketch  or  so  of  the 
Ufe  of  the  missionaiy. 

"  On  the  feast  of  the  Assumption,  I  had  to  convey 
the  holy  Viaticum  to  a  poor  dying  woman.  Every 
Saturday  the  aged  and  infirm  came  to  encamp  near 
the  Mission,  whence  they  did  not  return  until  the 
Monday  folloAving.  On  this  occasion,  in  order  to  ac- 
company the  Blessed  Sacrament,  they  returned   the 


380 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maey 


:  <  t  ■■■ 


^M 


n^ 


same  evening.  My  canoe  was  drawn  by  one  man  lamo 
ancl  another  almost  blind  ;  I  was  escorted  by  seven  or 
eight  other  barks,  filled  with  sick  people,  the  strongest 
of  whom  were  old  grandmothers  in  charge  of  infants, 
In  their  infirmity  they  managed  to  ply  the  oars  with 
sufficient  efl'ect  to  keep  np  with  the  canoe  which  car- 
ried .Tesus  Christ,  and  to  sing  hymns  Avith  the  utmost 
exertion  of  their  lungs. 

"  We  arrived  at  the  abode  of  the  sick  woman  at 
nightfall.  A  priest  in  Europe  would  bo  at  a  loss  liow 
to  proceed,  if,  while  bearing  the  sacred  clernents  to  liis 
sick  people,  he  met  with  houses  arranged  like  the  huts 
of  our  savages.  In  Euroi>e  ho  would  find  in  the  huLi- 
tations  of  the  poorest  at  least  a  table,  prepared  l)y 
some  frieudl}-  neighbor ;  but  ho  would  have  to  enter 
the  Indian  cabin  by  crawling  on  his  hands  and  foot,  to 
take  gi'cat  precautions  against  burning  his  clotlus  oi 
soiUng  them.  But,  under  such  circumistunces,  where 
is  the  priest  to  deposit  the  Holy  Sacrament  while 
hearmg  the  confession  of  the  sick  person  ?  Thoro  is 
not  a  single  piece  of  furniture  in  the  hovel,  not  even  a 
log  of  wood.  For  my  part,  knowing  bcd'orehand  what 
I  have  to  expect,  I  carry  with  me  a  small  caskiit,  not 
so  large  as  a  quarto  volume,  which  I  wrap  in  a  piece 
of  clean  luien,  and,  on  arriving  at  the  abode  of  the 
savage,  I  place  it  on  the  ground,  in  the  least  dirty 
place.  This  is  the  throne  upon  which  the  King  of 
kings  is  pleased  to  descend,  while  I  prepare  Him  an 
other  in  the  heart  of  the  sick  person  by  receiving  his 
confession." 


IN  North  America. 


381 


Then,  again,  is  not  this  a  fit  scone  for  tlio  Mission  of 
Our  Lady  of  Sorrows ?  "A  poor  old  Indian  arrived, 
followed  by  Lis  wife  and  children,  and  laden  Avith  a 
heavy  burden.  They  struggled  through  the  deep  snow, 
painfully,  to  the  door  of  the  Mission  House,  and,  with 
bitter  te£irs,  told  their  errand.  The  burden  which  the 
old  man  carried  was  the  dead  body  of  one  of  his  boys, 
and  his  request  was  for  Christian  burial ;  for  his  faith 
was,  at  least,  as  givat  as  his  paternal  love.  AYhen  the 
coffin  and  grave  had  been  arranged,  I  prepared  to  per- 
form the  burial  service.  The  cemetery  is  at  a  consid- 
erable distance  ;  there  is  along  the  road  a  quantity  of 
wood,  which  obstructs  it,  and  there  was  no  one  to 
carry  the  corpse.  Two  boys,  one  of  whom  was  the 
brother  of  the  deceased,  tried  to  carry  it ;  but  they 
had  not  sufficient  sti'engtli,  so  that  the  poor  father  was 
obliged  to  resume  his  burden,  now  considerably  in- 
creased in  weight.  My  clerk  was  a  little  Indian,  five 
years  old ;  although  he  had  only  the  cross  to  carry,  he 
fell  several  times,  tripped  up  by  the  snow  and  the 
branches  ;  I  was  obliged  to  raise  him,  myself  encum- 
bered with  my  book  and  the  holy  water.  I  had  also 
to  act  as  guide  to  the  old  man,  that  I  might  not  have 
to  lift  him  up  also.  On  arriving  at  the  gi-avo,  I  was 
about  to  let  down  the  coq)se  myself,  when  the  poor 
father  told  me  to  wait  for  his  wife,  avIio  had  not  been 
able  to  arrive  in  time.  When  she  came  up,  the  old 
savage  knelt  down  devotedly,  kissed  the  coffin,  in  which 
act  ho  was  imitated  by  his  wife  and  children.  Ketum- 
ing  all  together  to  the  church,  in  tears,  I  recited  with 


382 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maey 


.■/I 


m 


1^1 


■•■ll'"- 


tlicm  tlio  RoHary,  and  sang  a  hymn,  to  wliicli  tlioy  re- 
sponded, as  Avcll  as  to  tlio  Rosary." ' 

Father  Paul  Dnrieu"  had  spent  fivo  years  in  tho 
Rocky  Monutaius,  waudoving  about  from  solitude  to 
solitude,  from  forest  to  forest,  constantly  exposed  to 
perish  in  torrents,  to  fall  by  the  awful  grip  of  tlic 
grizzly  bear,  scarcely  knowing  where  to  get  food  from 
day  to  day,  or  shelter  and  rest  at  night.  Stiff  with  colil, 
rain,  and  suoav,  wet  to  the  bones  for  days  together; 
after  his  long,  long  isolati(m,  getting,  as  best  he  might, 
to  tho  next  mission,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  away; 
staggering  the  last  few  miles  of  tho  distance,  and  falHug 
at  last  upon  the  threshold,  so  apparently  (\ving,  thiit  they 
get  him  to  bed  and  administer  the  Extreme  Unction. 

Plenty  of  sunerings  were  his !  The  usual  unscrupu- 
lous wickedness  of  dc.'aliug  with  the  Indians  in  tlie 
States,  was  one  source  of  his  troubJes.  Cheated  first 
in  the  form  of  obtaining  their  lands ;  second,  in  tho 
measurf>'^v.jrt;  Ihird,  in  payment,  and  generally  in 
every  other  point  of  the  bargain ;  the  poor  American 
was  driven  to  desperation,  rose,  two  or  three  thousand 
strong,  without  discipline,  amnumition,  or  jirovisior, 
against  tho  millions  of  Celtico-Saxon  civilization  in 
1858.  Paul  Durieu  had  a  mission  of  four  hundrcnl 
Christians ;  who,  obedient  to  the  missionary,  refused 
resolutely  to  jom  the  exasperated  tribes.  Of  course, 
they  were  reckoned  as  enemies ;  they  were  obliged  to 
fly  from  their  mission ;  to  leave  their  village,  with  its 


'  AnnalcB,  xix.  343. 


«  Ibid.,  xxxu.  212. 


;Aa.-cj»«.«-;a23C 


IN  North  Amfhtca. 


383 


,  to  whicli  tlioy  ro- 


\\i<];wani  ohnrcli,  to  the  flames,  and  to  take  refugo  in 
tlio  mountains. 

Tlnvo  mi,tj;lii}'  hills  thny  crossed  to  reach  their  jilaco 
of  rofu.t^e  ;  a  ranf];(!  (A  mountains  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miloH  in  length,  rising  in  enormous  peaks  covered  with 
eternal  snow.  From  the  top  of  the  last  height  which 
ilivided  tlu^m  fi'om  their  new  home,  they  ](K)k(Ml  down 
over  the  j^lain  where  the  wild  massacre  was  going  on, 
and  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  how  its  thousand 
sparkling  streams  were  tinged  with  hlood.  At  first  the 
limiting  was  not  bad;  the  bear  and  roebuck  wore 
abundant ;  and,  when  the  hunters,  with  their  Oblate 
Father  among  them,  succeeded  in  finding  a  good  herd, 
tlioy  would  remember  who  sent  it,  and,  kneeling  upon 
the  snoAV,  they  "would  sing  the  jivn  ^fftris  S/cJIn,  to 
tliank  God,  through  the  medium  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
I\[ary,  for  giving  them  food  in  the  wilderness." 

Twice  had  the  savage  pagan  warriors  been  cmshed 
by  the  civilized  cannon ;  and  now  furious,  not  tamed, 
by  their  deficits,  they  were  searching  all  the  wilderness 
for  re-enforcements ;  and  one  night  a  fierce  troop  en- 
tered the  Christirai  encampnumt.  The}-  knew  that  the 
Oblate  of  Immaculate  Mary  had  prevented  his  people 
from  joining  the  fii'rcc  foraj'S  of  the  heathen.  He  heard 
tliem  coming  and  yelling  oiit  his  title.  He  foil  upon 
his  knees,  made  a  solemn  act  of  contrition  and  recom- 
mendation of  his  soul  to  God,  and  then  awaited  them, 
b  a  few  moments  they  poured  into  his  lodge.' 


Ibid.,  xxxii.  212. 


'  Annales,  xxi.  221. 


884 


Dkvotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


i, 

l',i 

■^ 


"  IToro  \h  tlio  priest,"  ho  Raid.  "  What  do  yon  want 
of  liimV"  Th(*  cliicf  sliowcd  tlio  (^ords  tliat  vore  to 
biiul  him.  'V]h)  wnrriorH  bnindishcd  tlu^  ^iuih  and  tlio 
kuivt'H  that  wcro  iiit(Mi(h'd,  at  huist,  to  iiititiiidatd  him. 
but  ho  said,  "  Do  you  know  in  whose-  h)d^'<!  you  Htand, 
and  to  whom  you  are  Hpoakinj^?  It  is  to  th(>  niinistor 
of  JeHUH  Christ;  to  tho  mcssen^'cu'  sent  \)y  Hod  aiiioii" 
you;  to  him  who  is  sjuirifitdnjj;  liimsclf  for  yonr  sulvu- 
tion.  And  your  minds  arc  so  perverse,  yonr  lieartsNo 
unj^ratefnl,  that  3'(m  wonhl  do  him  harm.  Are  you  not 
afraid  tliat  tho  Master  of  Ileavcui  will  (h^slroy  you  on 
the  spot?  If  you  are  thirsting'  for  my  blood,  T  am  in 
your  hands:  piereo  tlui  heart  tlnit  has  always  lovctl 
you;  her(>  it  is,"  and  ho  barcul  his  breast,  adiliiig; 
*'  Strike  if  you  daro,  and  all  will  bo  consummated,— 
your  orimo  and  my  sacrilieo." 

Tho  heathens  Avero  sullen  and  silent,  and  Mary's 
Oblato  continued:  "You  want  ])owder  and  hills;  I 
liavo  none.  Ihit,  if  I  liad  them,  I  would  not  ^msc  tliom 
to  you,  nor  would  I  bocomo  associated  with  your  mas- 
sacres, by  furnishing  you  with  tho  means  of  c(jiuiiiit- 
ting  them.  Tho  Black-robo  is  tho  man  of  [>eace  ami 
charity.  Hi.  is  ready  to  give  up  his  life  to  save  yours: 
he  detests  those  wlio  would  disseminate  death.  Go 
from  mv  lodge.  Tho  Master  of  Life  will  dad  with  you 
some  day.  Ho  will  take  vengeanco  for  -what  you  are 
doing  now.  But  I  entreat  Him  to  hav(!  pity  on  you, 
and  to  change  your  hearts,  for  I  cannot  help  loving 
you  still."  Then  tho  chief  said,  "  Ho  has  said  it.  It 
is  true.     The  Black-robo  was  and  is  our  best  friend. 


Mary 


IN  North  Amf.rica. 


385 


What  <1()  you  want 
corils  that  voro  to 
:hI  tlic  (j;ut\H  and  tlin 
;,  to  iiitimiilatt'  liim. 
HO  1()(1^(>  you  staad, 
It  is  to  tin'  iniiiistci' 
sent  l)y  (lod  among 
iisoH  f(U'  your  Halvii- 
^'('rH(>,  your  licarls  ho 
I  harni.    Arc  you  not 
1  will  (loHtvoy  you  on 
)!■  my  1>1»)()(1,  I  am  in 
lilt  liaH  always  loved 
his  bivast,  ail(liii<,': 
bo  coiisuumiatuil,— 

1  Hilcnt,  anil  "Mary's 
)()\V(l('r  and  halls;  I 
would  not  }:;iv*'  tlicni 
iiilcd  with  y.'iir  ums- 
K!  means  of  i-omiiiit- 
ic  niiui  of  pcai'o  and 
lis  life  to  save  yours: 
scminate   death.    Go 
ifo  will  deal  with  you 
u'(^  for  what  yim  uro 
to  havi!  pity  on  you, 
I  cannot  help  loving 
'He  has  said  it.    It 
d  is  our  best  fiicud. 


Pardon  us,  Blaf^k-roho,  wo  woro  ordered  hy  our  chief 
to  conm.  "Wo  ^o  away  now,  without  doin;^  liai-m.  Tlio 
I'lack-robo  Hhall  always  b»)  our  friend."  'riien  they 
hIiooU  hands  with  him,  and  diifdcd,  in  their  silent 
way,  down  tho  mountain.  Well  for  Ihcm,  most 
probably,  for  tho  t'liristian  Indians  soon  returned 
from  tho  chaso ;  and  liad  they  seen  tlieir  priest 
threat(Mied,  bloodshed  would  havo  (tevtainly  c^nsuod. 
"But,"  as  thoy  aro  so  foiul  of  ropeatiji^  in  their 
l('tt(>rs,  "  Our  Mother  ImnuuHdato  watches  over  her 
Oblat(>s." 

Tho  poor  Indians,  preposterously  simydo  in  tlui  eyes 
of  tho  schoolmen,  aro  so  blessedly  childlike  in  tho  ey(!S 
of  our  Clod.  Ono  poo?*  old  INFonta^nais  at  the  ^fission 
of  Our  T^ady  of  Sorrows,  was  found  to  pass  his  Fiidays 
alto<j;ether  without  oatinj;,  bocauso  fish  was  not  pro- 
curable. FatluT  Orandin  told  him  that  ther(^  was  no 
ohlii^ation  of  abstinence  uj^on  him.  Ihit  he  said,  "  I 
guessed  so.  Father,  but  I  want  to  sec  tin;  face  of  God, 
and  I  would  rather  do  too  much  than  too  littl(\"  And 
the  savofji's,  for  so  tho  translator  of  tho  " ^tinmlrs,'"  pre- 
fers to  render  tho  French  word  snuvntjcs,  tho  Imlians  of 
Our  Lady  of  Sorrows,  when  they  cannot  ^'ct  fish  for 
thoir  abstinence  days,  havo  a  habit  of  ]»ickin,i^'  out  such 
pieces  as  Ijit'i/  Jllr  frost.  Ono,  only  seventeen  years  old, 
and  newly  baj)tized,  went  out  to  hunt.  IFc;  passed 
three  days  withoiit  eatinj^.  Then  ho  kilh'd  a  bear. 
And  when  ho  brought  a  rib  or  so  of  it  to  tho  Oblato 
Father,  ho  told  him  that  ho  had  slain  tho  brute  on  a 
Friday,  and  had  eaten  some  of  his  fat.     "  I  am  not 

17 


AA 


:]m 


Dkvotion  to  tiik  l^.  V.  Mauy 


■  \ 

f'V 

I 

J 
*  \'^ 

i 


('(>rliiin  wlicditT   I  (lid   rij^lil,    l'\illi('r,  l>ui  T  Hiiid    Wm 
Bl(>ssi'(l  ^'il•,l;il^s  KosMi'v  (lircd  iiiiics.'" 

And  \V(>  iiiiisf,  rcniciidx"!',  in  <Mir  (isliiiiMiion  of  (licso 
lu'opliyh's,  iliiMr  posilion,  find  ils  tcniitialioiis  iiiid  con- 
S(>(|U(Mi(  I  Mils.  'I'lu'y  un^  iunoiij^  Uio  HiiVM|;t^  |);i|;:uis  of 
(licir  r.'K't' ;  akin  l>y  blood,  soparnlo  l>y  rclii^doii  ;  mid, 
faillifid  in  sucli  (•iicniMHtanccs,  run  lie  doul»l.  (Jial.  ;is 
with  Abraliain  of  old,"  "it  will  !>(>  nM-lvoncd  to  tiiciii  for 
f:;r(>altM'  iij;li(t>ousm'ss V"  l"'aJli('r  l'\araiid,  of  Mary's 
01)lait's,  sliows  us  in  a.  slu'fcli  liow  wild  <lu'S(>  cirtuiii- 
staiiccs  of  association  necessarily  ai'c."     Ilo  sajs: 

"On  mv  return,  1  fonnd  an  ass(Mnl)la,u;o  of  lift v  In- 
dians, leapini;,  shoutin;.^,  Iiriui;  ^Mins,  and  inea|)alil('of 
restraining!;  tiie  e\|n'(>  .sion  of  their  eidluisiasni  and  joy. 
Anionj;- llieni  \ver(>  two  old  men.  still  inlidcls,  Imt  par- 
tially aciniainted  with  tht>  sacr(>d  truth,  '(iood  and 
merciful  (uxl,'  (>\cIaini(Ml  one  of  tlioni,  '  I  thaid;  Thco 
for  liavini;-  ptMinittt'd  me  to  live  to  se(^  'J'hy  |tricst, 
tlirouj^li  whom  1  am  to  <d>tain  salvation.'  The  Indian 
coronioni(>s  havint;-  Ixumi  duly  perfoiined,  'Fathei-,'  said 
thoy,  'do  you  consider  our  liair  sulliciently  f^ra}  ?  Aro 
wo  snlVieiently  rip(>  for  hoavon?  Wo  aro  not  attaclird 
to  the  ]>rest>nt  life,  but  wo  liavo  nskod  of  (iod  to  ^i.int 
us  tlu>  fav(U'  of  livinjf  to  sc>o  aj^aiu  your  face,  and  re. 
ceivinij;  baiitism.'  On  lu^aring  my  alHrniative  reply, 
tlicy  dried  their  tears,   and  I  proootuled  to  the  fort. 


'  Aniinlcs,  XX.  lot.     American  oil'ilion. 

"  St.  I'luil  lo  tlu!  Ilobri'ws. 

'  Auuiiios,  XX.  22;J.    Aiuoricau  odition. 


i-r,  l>ut  T  Hiiid   U>o 

"  I 

osiiinnUdn  of  (licso 
'inntaiioiis  iiiul  foli- 
um S!iv;i|;t^  p.'i.j^'iMis  of 
V.  l>y  i-clij^ion  ;  iuid, 
n  lie  (lodM    tliiii   !is 

(M'UolH'd    ll>   tltt'lM   for 

I'^nrnntl,   <>f    IMiiry's 
,•  wild  tlu's«>  cinuiii- 
iro."     ll*>s:i_ys: 
;»«inl)l;i;-;«>  <>f  <'l"*y  Tu- 
ns, Mild  in(':iit;ilili'  of 
(Mitlnisiitsm  :nid  joy. 
;till  iiitidcls,  lull  par- 
irutli.     '  (lood   Mini 
uMii,  '  I.  thiiiik  Tlico 
to  SCO  Tliy   priost, 
jitioii.'     'l'li(>  liuliau 
rnuMl.  'iNitlior;  siiia 
Vu-'uMitly  ^niyV    Aiv, 
Wo  iiro  not  altiu-litHl 
kod  of  (Un\  to  ij;r!Uit 
I   your  fai'c,  niul  re- 
iiy   atlinnativc  nply, 
ii'oedcd  to  tlio  fort. 


IN   NOKTII  AmKIIIOA, 


387 


III  odition. 
lu  odition. 


F>iit  T  wiiH  Hooii  ohlij^tid  to  loavo  cvciry  tliiii;^';  imiii(;r- 

OIIS    J^IIII-.mIioIs     llild    jllHt   \)VVU     ll<!!ll(l,    lll(!    Wliolo   tlil)(!  of 

llio   Yellow    Knives   liad   anivod,   iiiid    this   was   tiicir 
^fr(!otiii;4  to  i\\(\ 

"'riio  Yellow  KiiiveH  are  niiK^li  le.sH  linniane  tliaii  tlio 
I\I()iila|;na,is  ;  tlieir  faces  l)ea,r  tlio  iiii|iress  of  fii;^litfiil 
l)!irl>aiity  ;  they  liad  conie,  liowever,  (o  jiear  the  words 
of  salvation.  As  tlieir  lan}^'iia|^(^  is  sninetliin;^-  like,  that 
of  tin!  i\loiita;4nais,  I  was  aJihi  to  iiisliii<-t  them  ;  tho 
iliUlciilly  was  io  liea.r,  for  they  spolu;  all  at  once, 
HctrcaiuiiiL?  uiid  howliiij^  in  the  most  deafeiiii);^^  manner. 
J  could  |)er('(!ive,  ]iow<'A'(M',  tliat  they  were  s|i(!a,kin;^  of 
5ii(!  with  admiration.  Some  of  them,  whom  I  had  seen 
four  years  l>efor(>,  want'  I  to  im|)ose  silence  niton  tlio 
()lli(!rs,  tliiit  they  nii^^ht  speak  to  nu;  alone  ;  but,  it  was 
(juite  iiiii)ossil»le,  for  any  siii;^h!  voice  to  Ix;  dis- 
tiiif!;iiished  a,mid  the  tumult.  'I'll is  sceiu!  continucid 
until  half-past  (iloven  at  ni^dit,  wluiu  I  dismissed  tliem. 
If  tho  Yellovv  Knivc!S  should  one  day  lieconu!  Chris- 
tiiuis,  I  feel  cotivinced  that  tluiy  will  |)ractis(!  virtiu!  to 
horoisin,  'I'hcy  liavo  lon^  Ixuui  tlio  tturor  of  llu;  other 
8ava,j,'OS,  and  they  arc  still  tho  most  violent;  l)nt  aro 
not  the  nu)st  violent  dispositions  tho  nujst  susceptiblo 
of  {^iviii}^  tho  hri^htost  examples  of  virtue? 

"I  uunouncod  tho  opening  of  tho  INIission  for  the 
followiiif^  day,  which  was  Sunday,  on  tin;  morning  of 
which  day,  the  sun  a])])oarcd  to  rise  more  bright  aud 
radiant  tlnui  usual.  Having  concluded  uiy  meditation, 
I  rang  tho  hoW,  and  tho  Indians,  at  tho  first  signal, 
tillod  tlio  room  tliut  acrvod  us  aa  a  cliurcL.   After  Mass 


i!M;i 


I  >f"'U' 


388 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


■% 

■■z^^, 


and  instructions,  the  chief  of  the  Yellow  Knives,  a 
man  of  good  sense  and  regular  conduct,  remained  with 
me,  together  Avith  the  second  of  the  old  men,  who,  also, 
had  asked  to  receive  baptism.  '  God,'  said  the  latter 
to  me,  with  an  earnest  look,  '  the  God,  whom  you 
preach,  must  be  good  beyond  expression,  since  you  are 
so  good.'  Then,  addressing  himself  to  the  chief  of 
the  Yellow  Knives,  'What  country  has  given  him 
birth?  who  has  inspired  him  with  the  thought  of 
coming  here  to  instruct  us,  poor,  miserable  creatures, 
who  were  so  deserted  ?'  The  reason  appeared  evident 
to  the  other  old  man,  who  replied  :  '  Father,  I  now  see 
you  for  the  first  time,  although  I  have  long  had  the 
desire  of  meeting  you.  But  I  am  happy  in  having 
thought  of  one  thing  that  you  have  preached  to  us. 
You  spoke  to  us  of  the  omnipresence  of  God ;  some  of 
my  tribe  considered  this  very  extraordinary:  well,  I 
then  explained  to  them  how  this  could  be  possible.  If 
the  sun,  which  is  so  small,  lights  all  our  forests  and 
lakes  at  the  same  time,  is  it  astonishing  that  He  wlio 
has  made  the  sun  should  bo  able  to  penetrate  and 
search  even  the  bottom  of  our  hearts?' 

"  But  I  was  not  to  overlook  the  principal  aim  of  my 
voyage.  The  mountains  of  snow  had  already  disap- 
peared imder  the  sun's  rays,  and  my  workmen  hud 
already  prepared  for  me  all  the  building-wood.  I  took 
two  men  with  me  ;  we  got  upon  a  raft,  upon  which  we 
drifted  towards  Elk  Island.  To  relate  all  the  dangera 
we  incurred  that  day  would  be  impossible.  Some- 
times in  the  water  up  to  the  waist,  wo  resolutely  p-'"- 


IN  North  America. 


389 


sistecT  in  clearing  the  ice  wliicli  would  not  give  way ; 
sometimes  we  were  carried  away  by  the  current,  and 
we  were  in  danger  of  disappearing  beneath  these  float- 
ing mountains.  At  one  time,  while  seated  astride  of 
a  flake  of  ice,  I  was  thrown  into  the  water,  and  should 
have  been  drowned  had  I  not  been  an  expert  swimmer. 
I  got  out  upon  another  piece  of  ice,  and  was  caught 
by  my  men  ;  but  I  was  obliged  to  desct  d  in  the  raft, 
and  return  with  them  to  the  fort  without  having  suc- 
ceeded in  my  attempt.  Tlie  following  day  the  wind 
changed,  and  drifted  away  the  ice.  We  hastcmed  to 
set  out ;  the  building-wood  was  put  on  board,  and  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  landcnl  on  the  deserted 
island.  Our  savages  followed  us,  and  we  now  went  to 
work.  For  eight  days  I  superintended  the  Avorkr.:en, 
hatchet  in  hand.  When  the  house  and  chnpel  l,egau 
to  require  less  of  my  direction,  I  left  my  workmen  to 
continue  their  labors,  and  resumed  my  missionary 
occupations. 

"  Then  a  new  clan  of  heathens  came  in  upon  us  sud- 
denly, with  salvos  of  musketry  and  rather  discordant 
yells.  Of  these,  only  one  had  been  baptized,  but  he  was 
an  apostle ;  he  had  instructed  liis  brethren,  and  they 
might  liave  been  taken  for  old  Christians.  Moreover, 
the  numerous  tribes  that  inhabit  the  banks  of  the  great 
Mackenzie  Hivcr  are  so  desirous  of  instruction,  tliat  it 
is  sufficient  to  initiate  one  alone  to  give  to  all  the  rest 
the  essential  notions  of  Christianitv ;  so  that  all  these 
Sfiva^^es,  even  those  who  are  not  baptized,  look  upon 
tlioraselves   as   Christians.      I   devoted  the   whole   of 


i 


m 


390 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


tlie  niglit  to  tlio  cxaniiiuition  of  the  ncw-comcrs,  aiid 
tlio  next  d'.yj  I  was  ciuiLlod  to  fix  the  time  for  tlio 
gi'and  biiptisiuiil  festival.  Providence  addcnl  to  llio 
solemnity  of  tlio  event  in  perniitting  ns  to  perform 
the  ceremony  in  our  modest  chapel,  which,  altlioiigli 
unfinislu>d,  avus  available  for  the  exigencies  of  tho 
occasion. 

"In  the  morning  I  ascended  a  small  hill  that  over- 
looks the  house  and  chajiel,  that  I  might  nun-e  freely 
devote  m^'self  to  praj-er.  Beneath  me  lay  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  Indian  huts,  and  I  heard  a  few  voices 
muttering  prayers.  Ou  tho  previous  evening  I  Imd 
exhorted  tlnnn  all  to  praj-er,  and  they  spent  tlie  niglit 
in  singing  hymns  and  reciting  the  Rosary.  At  break  of 
day,  some  of  them,  overcome  by  fatigue,  had  gone  to 
sleep ;  others  were  still  engaged  in  prayur.  On  tho 
signal  being  given,  they  all  assembled.  After  IMass, 
I  cidled  over  the  names,  and  thirty-six  adults,  ad- 
mirably disposed,  received  tho  sacrament  of  regen- 
eration. A  few  days  after,  eighty  otluu*  adults  wore 
sufficiently  well  prepared,  and  enjoyed  the  same  happi- 
ness." 

And  tlien  how  gratifying  it  is,  to  sec  these  groat 
heroes,  these  warriors  of  God,  unmentioned  in  news- 
papers, unquarrelled  for  by  parties,  unawa: ,;  of  tlieir 
own  grandeur,  remembering  so  tenderly  the  fatlier, 
mother,  little  sister,  whom  they  left  at  home  in  kindly 
France.  Livhig  in  the  wilds  as  God  made  them,  unen- 
tbralled  by  the  extreme  elegance  and  didicacy  of  Nortli 
American  civilization  those  me^.  amid  their  wander- 


the  ncw-comcrs,  aiul 
fix  tlio  tiino  for  tlio 
'id(Uico  {1(1(1(h1  to  tho 
uittiiig  US  to  i)oiform 
lapol,  wliicli,  iiltliongh 
lio   exigeucics   of  tlio 


ly  NoiiTii  Amekioa. 


?J91 


inga,  and  perils,  and  nohh  HvU-sacri^u-o   1 


S02 


DEVo'noN  TO  TEE  B,  Y,  Mary 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Maut'b  Oblates  on  tmk  Atlantic  and  in  the  Land  of  the  Dacotaii. 

There  arc  other  missions,  too,  loss  near  the  North- 
ern  Pole,  but  no  loss  fruitful  in  suffering.  To  nie  tlioro 
is  something  inexpressihly  touching  in  the  aihlrcss  of 
Father  Bernard's  letter  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence. 


f 


"My  Good  and  Dkaukst  Mother:' 

"  I  remember  that  when  I  was  still  vor}'  youiiijj,  1 
onco  read  to  you  a  letter  from  a  missionary,  in  ^vhi(■ll 
he  spoke  of  tlie  labors  of  his  ai)ostleship.  He  repre- 
sented himself  as  catechizing  liis  people  late  at  night, 
seated  upon  a  beam  of  liis  half-or(H;t(Hl  cliapel.  This 
scene  was  lighted  by  a  splendid  moonlight ;  and  tlio 
secret  desire  of  imitating  the  good  priest  was  enldndh'd 
in  my  heart.  It  has  pleased  God  to  aid,  by  His  grace, 
the  sentiments  with  Avhich  He  then  inspired  me.  It  is 
now  eleven  years  since  I  left  France  to  proceed  to 
Canada,  Avliero  I  liave  already  built  two  churches,  both 
dedicated  to  the  Apostle  St.  Peter,  my  glorious  patron, 
For  the  means  to  construct  these  two  churches,  I  had 

'  Annales,  xx.  2:28.    American  edition. 


IN  North  America. 


393 


THE  Land  of  the  Dacotah. 


the  Gulf   of   St.  Law- 


Brican  edition. 


to  turn  beggar,  aud  I  liavo  now  sufficient  to  complete 
them. 

"  For  four  years,  I  exercised  the  ministry  among  the 
French  Canadians,  and  it  was  not  unt'l  last  spring  that 
I  saw  an  Indian  tribe,  in  their  normal  state,  in  the 
midst  of  the  woods.  The  dream  of  my  early  years  is 
now  realized,  and  it  is  to  you,  my  good  Mother,  that  I 
address  the  first  narrative  of  my  Avanderings.  I  left 
Montreal  on  the  13th  of  last  May,  and  Quebec  on  the 
20th,  accompanied  by  Fathers  Bubel,  appointed  to  the 
cliiof  direction  of  the  Mission ;  Arnaud,  missionary  to 
the  Nascapis  ;  and  Crepman,  sent  to  Labrador.  On 
our  way  to  the  Mission,  in  the  bark  canoes,  we  recited 
the  Rosary  and  prayed  together.  We  mingled  our 
voices  in  singing  the  ]\fa(jn!/icaf ;  to  the  eye  of  faith,  it 
wiis  a  splendid  sight  to  witness  these  thirty-four 
travellers  praying  daily  in  common.  And  at  the  Mis- 
sion we  find  all  the  Indian  Christians.  On  our  arrival 
tlio  women  run  and  pick  up  dry  wood.  They  light  a 
fire  and  boil  the  pot.  The  children  gambol,  and  run  in 
quest  of  wild  fruit,  while  the  men  watch,  gun  on  arm, 
upon  some  crag.  You  may,  if  you  like,  apply  hero  tho 
proverb,  *  that  you  should  not  sell  the  bear's  skin  be- 
fore having  killed  it.'  Despite  all  the  proverbs  in  tho 
world,  the  pot  boils  ;  it  must  have  victims — it  will  have 
them!  Have  patience!  Do  you  see  that  iKcpculush 
(httle  boy),  nine  years  old,  with  smiling  lips  and  a 
quick  step?  With  as  little  concern  as  possible,  he 
says  to  you,  as  he  passes:  'Nofa  shiship ;  Father,  some 
game!'    Good,  good!    by  the  aid  of  the  murderous 

17* 


394: 


Devotion  to  B.  V.  Maui 


loatl  wo  will  have  soiuo  tjodes,  sonic  inoiuac,  for  (liniiei', 
and  tlicro  will  bo  somo  loft  for  this  ovoiiin^.  Tliu  juoal 
over,  tho  voyage  is  resumed  until  nightfall,  whou 
anchor  is  cast,  and  all  again  laud.  A  largo  fiic  is 
lighted ;  tho  game  will  soon  be  cooked ;  some  coarso 
black  tea  will  serve  as  a  beverage.  After  supper,  all, 
at  a  given  signal,  assemble  around  tho  large  fire,  and 
recite,  on  their  knees,  the  Rosary,  This  is  followed  by 
night  prayers,  after  which  an  Indian,  with  a  clear  voice, 
intones,  in  his  own  language,  three  times,  tho  Farix 
Dominc,  and  three  times,  also,  that  invocation  to  the 
Blessed  Vii^'u, — '  Sancla  Maria,  nftujiiua  }xccatanun, 
ora  nro  nohisJ  Then  is  added  that  touching  iuvocn- 
tion  from  the  office  of  the  Church  :  '  Into  Thy  haiuls, 
O  Lord !  I  commend  my  spirit.  Thou  hast  rodeoniod 
us,  O  Lord  God  of  truth  !  Glory  bo  to  tho  Father,  and 
to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost !  Keep  us,  O  Lord, 
as  tho  apple  of  thine  eye.  rrotect  us  under  tho 
shadow  of  thy  wings!"  Sublime  accents,  how  tlioy 
move  the  soul  of  tho  Christian  praying  in  solitmle  be- 
neath a  star-covered  sky !" 

At  'iiugan,  they  find  ninety  Christian  Indian  fami- 
lies assembled,  and  "  Mingan  possesses  a  delightful 
little  chapel,  surmou'ited  by  a  belfry  terminated  by  a, 
small  arrow,  and  ornamented  with  a  cross.  A  bell  is 
used  to  call  to  Mass  the  nomadic  people  encam])ed  iu 
the  neighborhood.     There  is  a  Mass  at  five  o'clock, 


'  Holy  Mary,  Rofiigo  of  Sinners  ;  pray  for  us. 

*  Conclusion  of  the  Compline  Office,  llomun  Breviary. 


IN  North  AMERirA. 


no," 


iBfc  iHonidc,  for  dinner, 


Ohristiau  Indian  faini- 
posscsses  a  doli^'htful 
belfry  terminated  by  a 
'ith  a  cross.  A  bell  is 
ic  people  encamped  iu 
Mass  at  five  o'clock, 


procod(Ml  by  prayer,  and  acpoTnpnni(>d  by  tbo  sinpnq 
of  liymns.  Tliis  is  followcMl  by  instruction  ;  .nnd,  at 
fioven  o'clock,  by  tlio  last  Mass.  An  Indian  woninn, 
wliom  I  asked  if  slio  were  not  fatigued  Avitli  remaining 
so  long  at  cliapcl,  and  always  in  a  squatting  posture, 
replied  :  '  I  wish  the  Fathers  would  rcm.'iin  with  us 
always.  Can  we  nialco  too  much  of  them  during  the 
days  of  the  "Mission  ?  Ah  !  if  you  knew  how  long  the 
months  appear  when  we  are  without  priests !'  '  And 
what,'  said  I,  'do  you  do  on  a  Sunday  when  we  are  not 
Lore?  Do  the  men  hunt?'  'NoA'cr,  Father,  unless 
tliey  have  hvon  unsuccessful  the  night,  or  night  but 
one,  before.  The  Great  Spirit  does  not  wish  his  chil- 
dren to  die  of  hunger.  About  the  time  when  we  know 
diat  the  High  INFtiss  is  IxMng  offered  up  in  the  parish 
rliurchc^s  of  Canada,  we  read  prayers  and  r(>cite  the 
Pvosary,  and  so  also  at  the  time  for  Vespers.  This  is 
all  our  consolation  while  awaiting  the  return  of  the 
Mission.' 

"These  words,  I  am  Vtound  to  say,  wct-o  fully  jusu- 
fied  in  their  condiict.  You  Avould  be  delighted  to  see 
tlicm  go  aliout  their  avocations,  the  Avomen  inside  the 
cabins,  the  men  outside  ;  some  fishing,  some  hunting, 
and  others  building  bark  canoes.  You  wou'd  bo 
equally  surprised  to  see  them  leave  off  work  to  go  to 
confession.  You  would  not,  perhaps,  find  one  who 
■would  content  himself  with  going  only  once.  At  night- 
fall they  assembled  at  the  chapel  to  sing  hymns,  which 
arc  followed  by  the  recitation  of  the  Eosary,  prayer,  and 
benediction,  and  expositicn  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 


39G 


Dkvotion  to  tiih  B.  v.  M\\\y 


"Tho  (lovotions  aro  tonniimtcMl  l>y  tlui  sin<:;i)i«^  of  u 
lijmii  to  Mtuv,  of  Avliich  tlio  following-  in  a  tiiinslution 
of  tlio  livst  mid  niniplo  stroplio  : 

"'How  I  lovo  to  lt)ok  upon  tlio  QiUHni  of  Heaven's 
Hacred  image !  My  lieavt  and  my  voice  have  alwuys 
uiidevstood  her  language.  She  say.s  to  me,  with  a 
.smih^ — Come,  my  child.' 

"I  must  also  sixuilc  to  you  of  the  procession  in  honor 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  ■which  generally  clos(>s  the  Mis- 
sion. At  that  to  Avliich  I  allude,  a  statue  of  our  good 
Motlu-r,  brought  from  Franco,  was  borne  \)\  Imw 
young  ^lontagnais  girls,  while  four  others  held  tli  > 
ends  of  the  ribbons.  All  of  them  might  have  saiil, 
with  the  Yirgiii  of  Solomon,  '  Nifjra  sum,  sed  JhritiDsn  :' 
we  ai'e  black,  but  this  by  no  means  i)revents  us  fidiii 
being  pleasing  to  the  Qu(H'n  of  Heaven.'  During  the 
proce)ssion,  a  company  of  hunters  from  time  to  tiinc 
discharged  their  guns.  Each  report  was  instantly  an- 
swered by  the  cannon  fired  on  board  the  Canadiemic, 
moored  in  front  of  the  chapel;  and  her  numerous 
crew,  at  least  the  major  part  of  it,  had  come,  by  our 
invitation,  t(  hn-m  an  escort  to  the  imiige  of  the  Pro- 
tectress of  France  and  Canada.  You  will  be  as- 
tonished at  the  grandeur  of  this  ceremou}',  if  you  re- 
flect that  it  took  place  at  a  distance  of  four  hundred 
miles  from  Quebec,  upon  an  uncultivated  coast,  and  in 
a  wood,  in  which,  in  spite  of  the  gnats  and  musquitos, 
I  had  opened  a  road,  eighteen  feet  wide  and  five  Imii- 


'  Sojig  of  Song3. 


l)V  tlu>.  sin-^in;^  of  ,. 

ft/ 

\'uvr  is  ii  tiiiiisluUon 

Qu(;cu  of  Ifi'avi-n's 
y  voice  hiivc  ivlwayH 
savs   to  iiH>,  witli  a 

)  procession  in  lioimr 
n-ally  closes  the  ^Mis- 
a  statue  of  our  good 
was    borne    by   f<nir 
four  others  lu'M  tin' 
vm  mif^lit  liave  saul. 
ra  .s'/*/N  •^■t'"'  ./''''•"'"■•^"■■' 
pans  prevents  us  from 
Heaven.'     Duriu«^  t]u> 
L's  from   time  to  tiiu." 
piu't  Avas  instantly  aii- 
)()ara  the  Canadiouin', 
and  her   numerous 
f  it,  had  come,  by  our 
,(',  image  of  the  Tio- 
You   will  be  as- 
ceremony,  if  you  re- 
ance  of  four  hundrod 
ultivated  coast,  and  in 
gnats  and  niusquitoN 
loot  wide  and  five  liuii- 


IN  North  America. 


397 


(Infd  yards  long.  "We  inaugurated  it  on  the  i)rovi()Us 
rvoning  by  planting  a  largo  cross,  to  which  disconso- 
late! souls  may  come  hereafter  for  strcaigth  and  con- 
solation. 

Wo  have  seen,  this  year,  1803,  that  struggle  of  the 
Sioux  for  the  possessitm  of  Minnesota,  whieh  will 
probably  be  their  last.  AYe  havt;  read  of  their  out- 
rages, and  of  the  lumging  of  some  seventy  of  them. 
Let  us  see  how  a  civilized  woman  j)roposes  to  arguo 
the  matter  with  them.  It  will  give  us  an  idc^i  of  the 
f(>rocity  and  savage  hate  for  all  whites  which  exist, 
as  hfe-elements,  in  the  boscnns  of  the  untamable  Daco- 
tali.  "  IMinnesota,"  says  Mi's.  Jane  G.  Swisshclm, 
"  will  never  make  peace  with  the  Sioux  Indians. 
Whenever  they  get  out  from  under  Uncle  Sanniol's 
wing,  we  will  hunt  them,  .shoot  them,  set  tra])s  for 
them,  put  out  poisi))i((J  hull  for  them,  kill  them  by  every 
moans  we  would  use  to  exterminate  panthers.  We  can- 
not breathe  the  same  air  with  these  demon  violators 
of  women,  crucifiers  of  infants.  Everv  jMinnesota  man 
?'7/o  has  a  soul,  and  can  get  a  rifle,  will  go  to  shooting 
Iiulians,  and  he  who  hesitates  will  be  blaekballed  by 
every  Minnesota  woman,  and  posted  as  a  coward  in 
every  Minnesota  house."  ' 

Now,  if  this  be  a  just  way  of  dealing,  even  retribii- 
tively  just,  with  the  Daeotah,  we  can  gain  an  insight 
iuto  the  perils  of  the  Oblate  Father  Mestre  on  his 
journey   through    the   country   of    these  indomitablo 

'  Lecture  delivered  by  tlie  above-named  lady,  iu  Washington,  ou 
Saturday,  Feb.  21  or  88,  18(5:}. 


13. 


:;i).s 


pFA'OTroN    ro    I'lIK    ]).  V.    M.MIY 


If 
m 


"i    I 


Hava}j;<'H  1((sh  tliivn  tlinio  yv.arH  n<^o.'  "  I  would  not 
writt!  yow  {\\rm\  lion-ors,"  lie  huvh  Io  IMnii.sci^^'iiciir  dc 
Mii/i'iiotl,  "  wciii  il'  lint  to  iillnr!!  yoii  joy  iuid  iiis|iiit> 
you  willi  ;^iiititud(',  liy  |H()viii.n'  to  you  oiiccs  niorr  llmt, 
ill  tlic  midst  of  deserts  llin  most  frimditful  mid  ronnidii- 
blo,  till!  Oltliitiis  of  Miiiy  Imimiculiito  are  visihly  |»n)- 
tocted  l>y  her  wliom  you  teiieli  tluiiii  daily  to  invoke  as 
thoir  ProtiHitresH  and  Molliei'. 

"  Nature  lieisell'  ^dves  uk  Mie  (irst  idea  of  wliat  our 
j()uru(!y  is  to  l)i>,  I'or,  ahoiit  iiiiu^  o'clock  at  ni;^lit,  just 
an  we  liiid  all  taken  to  our  Idiiukets,  and  \ver«'  (liiiikiiiL( 
of  takiiiif  a  little  re|ios(!  on  the  hard  ^n'ouiid  that  was 
to  1)0  our  travelliiijj;  couch,  a  most  violent  storm  hroke 
out.  The  wind,  blowing  with  fury,  continually  iit'tid 
u|)  our  tent  and  thn^atened  to  overturn  it,  whih'  tln^ 
clouds  poured  down  upon  us  a  torrent  of  lain.  Torn 
good  hour  we  liad  tlu!  ^r(!atest  didiculty  in  preserving 
our  slii^ht  place  of  slielt(M',  and  in  |)rotiM!tin;^'  our  pid- 
visions  aj^ainst  tlu>  water,  which  broke  in  ui)on  us  at. 
all  sides,  When  tlu»  stoiin  had  coas(!d,  and  the  sky 
became  a^ain  sei-eiie,  a  leuijxst  of  another  uaturi!  was 
suddenly  lu^ard  in  the  lent  uext  to  ours,  and  one, 
too,  Avliicli  gavi!  us  much  more  alarm  than  the  one 
against  which  wc  had  been  so  vigorinisly  strugi^lin^'. 
Tlio  three  half-broods,  who  had  shown  us  the  gn^atest 
civility,  having  l)oeu  visited  in  the  evening  by  soine 
comrades,  invited  tliiuu  to  drink,  and  drank  with  them 
to  excess ;  then  followed  shouts  and  songs,  which  were 


Annivh'8,  xxii,  229.     BuUiinore  editiou. 


I.    M.MIY 

,ti\ '     "  1    \v(mlil   nut 

lo  Moiiscij^iii'iir  tic 

vo\i  i<ty  ami  iiis|iii(' 

ycm  oiicn  more  tliiit, 

■iulitfiil  iiii'l  l"(»rmi«lii- 

liiU*  an;  visiUly  pro- 

•  111  daily  to  iiivoiu;  jih 

irsi  i(l«'ii  of  ^^li'i*  •""' 
o'clock  at  ni^lit,  just 
•Is,  and  were  thinkin;^ 
lavd  i^roiMid  lliat  was 
4  violent  storm  bntk.' 
ury,  contin\i:dly  lifted 
t)vertuvii  it,  while  tiic 
.nvntof  vain.     For  a 
ilVienlty  in  preservin;^ 
,11  prottMjtin;.,'  o\ir  I'lo- 
bioko  in  upon  iis  at 
ceased,  and  the  sky 
|>f  another  natnn^  was 
Kt  to   ours,  :ind  ow, 
alarm  than  the   one 
Ivij^onmsly  strugi^'lin^?- 
ihown  us  the  ^n-eatest 
|the  evening  hy  «'>"'^' 
and  drank  with  them 
Imd  songs,  which  were 


IN  NoUTir   AMI'.ltlCA. 


800 


fliose  of  Inie  Trocpiois  :  hut  llies(!  were  Sf)on  Hnf'f'e»^(hMl 
hy  ipiarrels,  iu\(\,  as  a  liiilsh  lo  llie  feast,  liy  Hangnlnary 
hiillles,  for  one  of  tjic  coiiilialants  rec-eiveil  l\v(»  knif<(- 
ciils  in  the  orhil  of  the  rjj'M  eye.  Tliis  scene  lasted 
Miilil  three  o'clock  in  the  moi'ning." 

Tlien  they  striki;  oil'  into  those  honndless  plains 
wlieic  Jlie  eye  seldom  H(!es  any  trace,  of  hnninii  Wto, 
hctween  itself  and  the  far  hon'/on.  Ihd  in  a,  feu  dnyn 
a  straggling  Indian  or   Ira  ler  woidd    meet  tiiein,  njid 


ass  them  rai)idi\-  with  llie  news  that  tlie  Sioii 


were 


"I 


IIP 


and  soon,"   smvs   I''ather  ^festre 


we 


aw,  iri 


[luore  edition. 


the  difection  of  tint  northwest,  jin  ininieii'^e  lire,  uikI 
our  people  recognized  in  this  ;i,  piact  ie('  of  Ihe  Hiotix, 
wl'o  must  liav(  discovered  ms  during  the  daylinie,  and 
wlio,  hy  this  mis'ins,  were,  giving  to  their  hrethi'eii,  dis- 
jicrsed  on  iiie  [U'airic^,  tlu^  signal  for  a  rendexNoiis,  that 
tliey  niiglit  he  ahh;  to  attack  ns  wi!h  gr(;aler  advan- 
tag((.     This  sn[)])()sition  was  hut  too  trn(\ 

"It  so  hap[ien(Ml  tlnit,  niuh'r  these  fearlul  circnm- 
stiUK!(!s,  -we  had  with  us  only  four  young  half-hrecHls, 
not  inoro  than  (lightecn  years  old,  and  a  man  of  ahout 
fort}  hut  who  app(;ared  least  courageous  of  all.  It  was 
in  vain  that  we  sought  to  rou.s(!  him  from  the  ]>r(!Occu- 
pntions  that  jjveyed  upon  us,  as  well  as  him;  in  vain 
ilid  we  exhort  him  to  i)ut  his  whole  triist  in  (lod  and 
the  g;H)d  ^Nlary.  Alas!  it  woidd  seem  he  anticipated 
the  horrible  scene  in  Avhii^li,  (devon  days  later,  hv.  was 
to  fall  a  victim  to  the  porfidy  of  the  Sioux.  Ahout  six 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  just  as  we  wi-re  retiring  within 
our  camps,  perceiving  him  still  in  the  same  clejected 


^00 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


..m 


mood,  '  Como,'  sai'T  I  to  liini,  '  I  will  stcind  sentinel, 
and  SCO  that  our  horses  do  not  go  astray,  and  give  the 
aljwm  at  tlio  first  sign  of  danger.'  And,  aeeordiiigly, 
with  my  gun  on  my  loft  arm,  and  in}'  Ivosary  in  my 
right  hand,  I  set  to  walking  abont,  in  all  directions, 
around  our  carts,  stojjping  at  every  step  to  listen." 

So  they  go  on,  over  those  seas  of  land,  till,  on  the 
twentieth  day  of  their  jonrncy,  they  "suddenly  lioavd 
the  almost  sijnultancous  report  of  S(>V(U';d  guns.  'It 
is  all  over  with  us,'  said  the  men  one  to  another ;  '  the 
enemy  is  behind  the  hill;  we  are  lost!'  'Lost,'  ex- 
claimed Father  INEoulin  and  I,  as  if  instinctively 
re})eating  the  word;  'no,  no,  it  is  not  possililc!  the 
All-Powerful  hand  that  has  protjcted  us  thus  far,  will 
not  aliraulon  us.  AYo  are  here  two  missionaries,  two 
cliildren  of  Mary  Immaculate  :  our  glorious  Mother  i? 
wttli  us. 

The  shots  came  from  a  band  of  Dacotahs  who  liad 
fired  at  three  straggling  half-breeds.  Tlie  latter  now 
came  in  and  swelled  the  drunken,  mixed-blood  escort 
of  the  unfortunate  Missionaries.  These  fellows  tolil 
the  Oblate  Fathers  that  there  were  oidy  twenty-fivi' 
miles  left  of  their  journey  towards  tlu?  INIission  of 
Saint  Joseph  ;  and  that  there  was  no  further  daiii^ci 
from  th(!  Sioux.  The  truth  was,  that  they  had  still 
one  hundred  miles  to  traverse,  and  that  througli  the 
very  central  caniping  ground  of  thos(>  vedoul)tahle 
lieathens.  But  "God  and  IMary"  was  the"r  watoli- 
word;  and  earnest,  practical  Jxlnf  in  that  wliich  they 
professed,  was  their  strength.      But  the  luggage  of 


V.  Maiiy 


IN  NouTH  America. 


401 


[  will  stand  sentinel, 
)  nstray,  and  ^dve  the 
L-.'     And,  ac'C()vdin-j;ly, 
[id  my  Hosni'j  in  luy 
out,  in  all  directions, 
try  step  to  listi-n." 
is  of  land,  till,  on  tlie 
licy  "  sudd(!nly  lieavd 
of   several  <:;nns.     'It 
1  one  to  another  ;  '  the 
.ro  lost !'      '  I.ost,'  ex- 
I,   as    if    instinclivdv 
t  is  not  possible  !  tlic 
tjctcd  lis  thns  far,  will 
two  missionaries,  two 
Dur  glorious  Motlicr  i? 

if  Dacotalis  wlio  lisid 
'eds.     The  hitter  now 
m,  mixcd-lilood  escort 
These  fellows  toW 
were  only  twenty-fivi' 
ards   tlio   INIission  of 
•as  no  further  .laii^'or 
IS,  that  they  had  still 
and  that  thr(ni.'^li  the 
of    thos(!    redouhtiihle 
ry"   was  the'r  watcli- 
,",/  in  that  which  they 
Bu't  ilie  luggage  of 


tlieir  escort  consisted  cliiefly  in  whiskey :  tlio  unbred 
hrr.tos  Avero  always  drunk  and  quarrelling ;  and  tlie 
two  priests,  "  otFercMl  to  God  for  INIary,"  determined 
to  "o  in  advanco  of  the  caravan  :  hoping  and  believing 
to  find  that  she,  Avho  is  the  "  Star  of  the  Sea,"  Avould 
pr()V(!  for  them  also  the  "  Star  of  the  Prairies." 

They  believed  that  they  had  twei^ity-five  mih\s  to  go, 
and  th;'y  started:  Father  Mcmlin,  with  his  breviary 
uiitlor  one  arm,  and  their  stock  of  provisions  swung  on 
an  umbi-ella  over  the  shoulder  of  the  other ;  while 
Father  Mestre  bore  a  travelling-bag,  weighing  thirty 
pounds,  attached  to  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle.  So  they 
go  on,  from  daybreak  until  three  o'clock,  the  tw(;nty- 
fivo  miles  of  suj)position  gradually  lengthenii;j.';  out  into 
the  huiulred  miles  of  reality.  So  the  night  fell  at  last, 
and  there  was  nothing  left  but  to  lie  down  beneath  the 
tufted  willows  which  fringed  the  watereoui'se  that 
guided  tluin,  with  trust  in  God  and  His  Tnnnaeulate' 
Mother,  for  their  sole  protection  from  the  night-dew, 
the  prowling  AV(df,  the  grizzly  bear,  and  the  grizzlier 
Dacotah. 

"It  is  needh^ss,"  says  Mary's  Oblatt%  "to  describe 
the  horrors  of  that  long  night.  Half  re(  lined  upon  the 
ihinip  ground,  we  covdd  not  sleep  for  a  moment,  for, 
at  every  movement  of  the  leaves,  we  imagined  our- 
selves assailed  by  enemies  of  all  sorts  ;  and  as  I  placed 
iiiuoh  reliance  on  my  gun,  I  never,  for  iin  instant, 
parted  with  it.  Ah,  with  what  jtjy  we  witnessed  the 
break  of  day  about  four  o'clock  next  nu)rning  !  After 
liaving  ofl'ered  up  an  act  of  thanksgiving  to  God,  and 

BB 


402 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


implored  the  intercession  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  for  our 
protection,  Ave  sought  the  best  means  of  crossing  tlio 
river;  but  what  was  our  surprise,  on  reaching  tlio 
opposite  bank,  to  discover  an  immense  plain  Ijctwicii 
us  and  the  long-desired  mountain !" — the  moiTntuin  at 
the  foot  of  Avhich  they  fancied  St.  Joseph's  missio)i  lay. 
Therefore,  they  march  on  bravely,  and  find,  at  seven 
o'clock,  that  no  Mission  is  there.  Courage !  it  is  at 
the  other  side  of  the  mountain  !  So  they  set  a  stout 
heart  to  a  steep  brae,  and  climb  the  hill.  And  on  tlio 
top  they  find  the  beginning  of  a  new  and  apparently 
limithiss  plain,  stretching  ofi'  far  to  the  base  of  anotlu  r 
and  a  taller  peak. 

Then  Father  Moulin  is  struck  with  an  attack  of 
ague,  from  which  he  had  been  for  some  time  suffering, 
and  falling  down,  declares  his  inability  to  go  any  fur- 
ther. What  is  to  be  done ;  The  escort  cannot  over 
take  them  in  less  tlian  two  days :  they  have  had  no  foo; 
for  twenty-four  hor.rs ;  on  this  elevated  plateau  there 
not  one  drop  of  water  to  quench  their  parcliing  thiiw 

Then  says  Mestre  :  "  '  What  shall  I  do,  my  brotlie 
Shall  I  lie  down  beside  you  that  we  may  die  togetli 
or  shall  I  leave  you,  and  strive  to  reach  the  Mission 
And  Father  Moulin  answered :  '  Go  forward,  fricntl 
you  have  still  any  strength  remaining.  It  may  be  tl 
St.  Joseph's  is  at  no  great  distance.  Ah  !  if  you  cou 
but  reach  it  Avithout  accident,  you  would  probably  llu 
there  some  charitable  souls  who  would  fiy  to  my  assis' 
ance,  and  then — '  '  Leave  that  to  me,'  said  I,  Avil 
my  heart  swollen  Avith  grief.     '  Ever  since  Ave  were  le 


IT 


3.  V.  Mary 

3  Blessed  Virgin  for  our 
t  means  of  crossing  the 
L'prise,  on  reac-liing  tlie 
immense  plain  Vjctwccu 
t-a^jn !" — the  mountain  at 
St.  Joseph's  mission  lay. 
wely,  and  find,  at  seven 
here.     Courage !  it  is  at 
tin  !     So  tlicy  set  a  stout 
inb  the  hill.     And  on  the 
of  a  new  and  apparently 
far  to  the  ba^o  of  another 

struck  with  an  attack  o? 
n  for  some  time  sulleriiig, 
is  inahiUty  to  go  any  fm- 
Tho  escort  cannot  over- 
ly  s :  they  have  had  no  hv\ 
is  elevated  plateau  there  is 

iR-h  their  parching  thirst, 
at  shall  I  do,  my  brother? 
that  we  may  die  together, 
iveto  reach  the  Mission  r 
xl :  '  Go  forward,  friend,  i( 
omainhig.     It  may  be  tluU 
istance.     Ah  !  if  you  couW 
it,  you  would  probably  iiu'l  I 
^v'ho  would  lly  to  my  assist- 1 

that  to  me,'  said  I,  ^vitl; 
'  Ever  since  we  were  lc!t  | 


IN  North  America. 


403 


to  ourselves  in  this  frightful  solitude,  God  has  delivered 
us  from  so  many  dangers,  that  He  Avill  still  be  my  pro- 
tector and  guide,  and  will  likewise  watch  over  you.' 
With  these  words,  I  placed  my  gun  and  bag  at  the 
feet  of  my  dear  brother,  and  now,  that  I  had  tli vested 
myself  of  this  heavy  burden,  I  felt  capable  of  walking 
several  miles  before  nightfall. 

"  I  must  admit,  that  when  I  saw  my  beloved  brother, 
hitherto  so  courageous,  lying  helpless  on  the  ground, 
I  could  not  help  feeling  discouraged.  For  a  moment 
I  thought  it  was  all  over  with  us;  but  Providence,  who 
had  reserved  for  us  this  severe  trial,  came  to  my  aid ; 
and  no  longer  thinking  of  the  pains  in  my  legs,  or  the 
numerous  blisters  that  had  almost  rendered  me  in- 
capable of  putting  my  feet  to  the  ground,  I  set  out 
with  almost  as  much  energy  as  at  the  moment  of 
departure. 

"  I  had  scarcely  proceeded  three  miles,  when  I  sud- 
denly perceived,  a  few  yarus  before  me,  what  appeared 
to  be  a  man's  head  in  the  grass.  *  Hold !'  said  I  to 
myself,  '  there  is  a  Sioux  lying  in  wait  for  me.'  I  re- 
solved, however,  to  advance ,  trembling  with  fear,  and 
recommending  myself  to  God  with  all  the  fervor  that 
an  almost  certain  and  inaneiliate  death  was  calculateel 
to  inspire.  On  approaching  the  so-much-elreaded  ob- 
ject, I  elistinguished  a  black  cap  fixed  on  the  euel  of  a 
stick  set  up  in  the  very  path  along  which  I  was  walk- 
ing. On  approaching  this  trophy,  I  saw  also  two 
arrows  on  each  side  of  the  road,  and  beneath  the  cap, 
a  large  knife,  very  recently  steeped  in  blood.     This 


404 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


PI 


1 


was  quite  sufficient  to  con\'ince  me  that  the  Sioux  must 
have  cominittccl  there  a  double  murder  within  a  fow 
days.  Looking  around  me,  I  perceived  on  the  grass, 
which  appeared  much  trampk-d,  some  traces  of  hhny], 
f.nd  shreds  of  ch)tlies  ;  thirty  or  forty  j'ards  behind  tlio 
spot,  a  knot  of  dwarf  willows,  the  branches  of  wliitli 
were  for  tlie  most  part  twisted  or  broken,  bore  (>vi- 
dence  that  the  eiiemy  had  made  this  their  and)ush." 

The  next  encounter  was  with  a  Avolf — no  dog-liko 
coyote  of  tlie  milder  prairies,  but  a  gaunt,  ta\vny-gi;iv 
wolf  of  the  noi'lh.  Poor  Fatlni'  Mcstre  had  notliii)" 
to  do  for  it  but  trust  in  God,  and  to  keep  his  und)re]l;i 
pointed  at  tin;  brute.  By  and  by  it  slunk  away,  aiul 
the  Oblate  felt  bettor,  until  at  sunset,  Avlieii,  liaving 
finished  his  Oiiiice,  he  heard  the  growl  of  nu)re  tlaui 
one  grizzly  bear.  No  hujih'r's  joy  was  his  at  the 
souml  ;  for  the  unaided  und)rella  is  not  reliable  in  tlio 
case  of  the  bear.  "Besides,"  he  says,  "  I  couhl  scairtly 
bear  up  against  the  pain  that  was  caused  \)\  the  cdu- 
traction  of  the  sinews;  I  was  also  parclied  witli  thirst, 
which  tended  to  increase  the  state  of  weakn^  ss  to 
which  I  was  reduced.  I  tried,  however,  U)  drag  iiiysilf 
along  for  sonu'  time,  firmly  resolved  to  keep  the  prom- 
ise I  had  made  to  Father  IMoulin,  to  walk  day  and 
night.  1  J  Iso  ex|)ected  to  meet  with  some  Like  or 
stream  at  which  I  should  be  alile  to  (piorich  my  tliitst. 
Biit  at  nine  o'clock,  finding  myself  deceived  in  uiy  ex- 
pectations, and  my  stnwigth  com])letely  (>xhanstetl,  I 
was  forced  to  make  a  halt.  I  took  shelter  for  the  niglit 
luider  some  bushes  densely  covered  Avith  folia.ge,  ami, 


IN  North  America. 


405 


before  going  to  sleep,  recommended  nij-self  \vitli  all  my 
heart  to  'God,  and  to  her  wlio  is  justly  designated  the 
CiWiforlei'  of  the  aj/lldcd.  Apprehensive  tluit  I  might 
only  awake  iu  the  presence  of  the  great  Jndge,  I  thrice 
repeated  my  act  of  contrition,  then  painfully  stretching 
myself  upon  the  already  damp  grass,  Avith  my  cross  in 
one  hand  and  my  llosary  in  the  other,  I  laid  my  head 
on  my  breviary,  and  crossed  my  arms  on  my  breast. 
In  this  posture,  I  waited  patiently  until  sleep  came  to 
close  my  eyelids.  But  the  SAveat  in  Avhich  my  Avhole 
body  Avas  sulTused,  the  dew  Avhicli  had  already  Avet  my 
clothes,  distressed  me  A'ery  much ;  and  it  Avas  not  till 
after  having  lain  long  and  painfully  awake,  that  a  deep 
sleep  enabiuel  me  to  forget  for  a  time  the  fatigue  and 
sufloriiig  that  I  had  endured  during  the  Avhole  day. 
At  ton  o'clock  I  Avas  suddenly  roused  by  the  hoAvling 
of  the  wolves." 

So  u])  he  must  rise  and  stagger  on  again  :  but  he 
blessed  God  for  that,  for  eleven  o'clocdv  l)rought  him  to 
a  river,  shadowed  by  dwarf  red-oak  and  maple.  Here 
he  quencluid  his  thirst,  and,  after  one  or  two  failures, 
succeeded  in  clindnng  up  into  a  triple  tree-fork.  Hero 
he  felt  disposed  to  mock  at  the  howling  of  the  noAv 
nuiuerous  Avolves,  for  he  kncAv  that  the  brute  could  not 
cHnib,  but  a  dee))er  groAvl  in  the  distance  moderated 
his  triumph,  and  bade  him  remember  that  the  tallest 
trees  are  accessible  to  the  bear.  But  he  got  some  little 
rest,  though  broken,  in  his  forest  arm-chair,  and  at 
davbreak  he  felt  better  able  to  continue  his  route. 
And  so  still  fasting ;  chcAving  the  blossoms  of  certain 


40G 


Dfa'otion  to  tiik  B.  V.  Mary 


:^ 


otlorifevons  pliinU  for  huiigivr,  and  lickiiij^  [lio  dow 
from  tlu!  larjfo  oak  leaves  to  queneli  liis  thirst,  lie  i'oiiud 
hits  way  at  li'ii^th  to  his  Itrotluu-  Ohlates  of  Muvy  Im- 
maeulatci,  at  their  iiiomitain  Mission  of  Saint  Joscpji. 

Ho  hud  been  separated  from  Father  IMoulin  Jortn- 
Itro  /loiirs,  duiin<^'  all  which  time  that  priest  lay,  jmjs- 
trate  witli  fever,  on  the  o})eu  prairie.  I'nit  ten  stout 
men  hurried  off  at  onee  for  him,  and  it  phrased  ow 
Lord  to  save  him  for  future  usefulness  on  earth. 

But  Father  Goill'on,  of  Saint  Bonifaite,  caught  iii  a 
storm  of  rain,  hail,  and  snow,  saw  his  horse  perish  in 
a  marsh,  in  December,  18(i0.  His  elTorts  to  save  tlio 
poor  brute  exhausted  his  own  rtuuaininy  strtaigih,  iuid 
he  fell  beside!  the  creature  that  had  carried  him.  Five 
ihitjii  and  ii'iijldH  he  lay  there  in  the  Icnee-deej),  half- 
frozen  slush,  j)illowed  on  and  nourished  by  the  dwul 
horse  oidy. 

On  the  sixth  day,  his  wild  shouts  of  delirium  at- 
tracted attention,  and  they  found  him  lyinj'  cramped 
there,  and,  with  crazy  hospitality,  inviting  all  to  sluiro 
liis  delicious  bancpiet  of  horse-llesh.  Saved,  he,  but 
at  the  ex2)enso  of  one  leg,  and  the  foot  of  the  other. 
A  day  or  two  after  tluise  were  am})utated,  tlu;  mission 
house  took  fire,  and  when  they  cjit)v>  to  move  him,  ho 
said,  "  Leave  me  to  die  :  go  save  those  who  are  useful: 
as  for  ni(%  I  am  no  longer  good  for  any  thing."  And 
they  had  scarcely  carritid  him  out  when  the  lire  seized 
upon  and  consumed  the  room  wherein  he  had  lain.' 

'  Aiinales,  xxii.  244.    Baltimore. 


3.  V.  MAiiY 


IN  North  Ameiuca. 


407 


Such  in  our  iiiongro  sluitc;!!  of  tlio  01)liit(;s  of  Thiudic- 
uliito  Mary.  Aro  not  tluiso  tho  k!<4;itiiuiit(!  sucincssors 
of  ihoHO  f^riv^.d  men,  wlio  strode  in  con(|ii(!st  over  this 
Vi)Ht  land  tliro';  centuries  a<^'o  ?  Do  not  the  s[)ii'its  of 
Marciuette,  and  Jogues,  of  Lallemant,  lircssiini,  Danii;], 
Breheuf,  h)ok  down  from  heaven  in  benedictl(;u  on 
these  conipk;ters  of  tlieir  work?  Wliat,  to  th»^se  he- 
rocs,  are  the  toils  they  undergo,  the  ills  tlujy  sui'fur,  the 
death  that  they  confr(;nt !  All  have  for  th(nr  hattlo- 
call  and  rallying  cry,  these  words  of  one  of  tluiir  num- 
ber, now  laboring  in  Texas  : '  "  IJlessed  forever  bo  the 
sacred  names  of  Jksus  and  of  Mary,  to  whom  we  ap- 
pertain for  time  and  for  titornity  !  too  happy  we  in 
having  given  up  our  lives  for  them." 


'  Fatlior  Mary  Sivy,  Obliito  of  Mary  Immuculato.     So«  Annuloa, 
xxii.  251.     Baltimuru  cditiou. 


408 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Thk  Compant  or  .Iksdh  aoain — The  Immaculate  Conokption  in  tiik  Ro 
Ki' v  L  LATiruDKS — Uj;votion  in  Minnesota — Ouu  Lady  of  thk  Uoukv 

MOb'NlAl.NS. 


We  arc  not  to  s\ipposo,  lioM'o\tr,  ibrt  nono  otlicis 
are  ofiored  for  Mary  but  tlioso  wlio  arc  so  by  title  as 
well  as  practice.  In  those  same  cold  regions,  side  by 
side  with  this  fresh  young  Knighthood  of  the  Immac- 
ulate Mother,  labor  some  secular  missionaries  :  a  few 
sons  of  Saint  Benedict,  and,  of  course,  the  in<>vitablo 
Jesuit.  Pioneer  warrior  of  God  to-day  as  he  Avas 
three  hundred  years  ago,  the  soldier  of  the  Company 
of  Jesus  preserves  the  spiric,  features,  and  disci})line 
of  those  who  evangelized  the  Abnaki  and  Algonquin  of 
old,  who  paid  for  the  souls  of  the  Iroquois  with  their 
blood,  as  their  Master  had  bouglit  their  souls  with  His 
most  precious  Blood.  Year  after  year,  new  tribes, 
from  among  the  thousands  who  still  wander  betv.'een 
Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Pacific,  coaie  in  search  nf  the 
Black-robe,  or  are  s  ought  out  by  him.  The  Dacot  ili 
even  respects  him,  and  if  he  have  harmed  any  it  was 
by  mistake,  and  all  other  tribes  exhibit  ^  o-day  the  wel- 
come of  Hiawatha,  as  in  the  days  Avhen  Daniel  and  Mar- 
quette first  visited  the  cool,  siiores  of  GUche  Guihme.^ 


'  The  Eig-Sea  Water :  Lake  Superior.    The  address  of  Hiawathf 
in  the  poem,  is  a  translation  merelv  from  Shea's  "  Mississippi." 


TN  NoiiTH  America. 


409 


U.ATE  CoNOErXION   IN  TIIK  Ho 
A — OUK  LaUY  Ok'  THE    lidCKY 


\er,  thrt  noiio  others 
'lio  are  so  by  title  as 
cold  regions,  side  by 
itliood  of  the  Iininac- 
r  missionaries  :  a  few 
course,  the  in<>vitablo 
•d  to-day   as   ho  was 
Idier  of  the  Company 
itures,  and  discii)liiio 
uiki  and  Algonquin  of 
0  Iroquois  Avith  their 
;  their  souls  with  His 
or   year,  new   tribes, 
still  wander  between 
o.iio  in  search  of  the 
y  him.     The  Dacot  ili 
ve  harmed  any  it  was 
xhibit  ^  0-day  the  wel- 
when  Daniel  and  Mar- 
s  of  Gltche  GmitVie.^ 

The  addniss  of  Hiawatbi 
blica's  "  MJssissipDi." 


From  tlio  distant  land  of  Wahun, 
From  tho  furthost  ronlins  of  morninpr, 
Ciimo  th(!  Bliick-robo  chiof,  tlio  Pi'ophet, 
He  tho  Priest  of  Pniyi^r,  tho  pale-face, 
Witli  his  guid(!3  and  his  companions. 

And  tho  nol)le  Hiawatha, 
Witli  Ills  hands  aloft  extended, 
Held  aloft,  in  sij^n  of  wclcioiue, 
Wruted,  full  of  exultation, 

Till  tho  birch  cnnoe  with  paddles  ' 

Grated  on  the  shining  pebbles, 
Strande<l  on  tho  sandy  margin. 
Till  the  Black-rob(!  cliief,  the  pale-face. 
With  the  cross  ujjon  his  bosom, 
Landed  on  the  sandy  margin. 

Then  the  joyous  Hiawatha 
Cried  aloud  and  spake  in  this  wise : 
"  Beautiful  is  the  sun,  O  strangers, 
Whi'ii  you  come  so  far  to  see  us  I 
All  our  town  in  peace  awaits  you* 
All  our  doors  stand  open  for  you  ; 
You  shall  enter  all  our  wigwams. 
For  the  heart's  riglit  hand  wo  give  you." 

And  the  Black-robe  chief  made  answer. 
Stammered  in  his  speech  a  littlo, 
Speaking  words  yet  unfamiliar: 
"Peace  be  with  you,  Hiawatha, 
Peace  be  with  you  and  your  people. 
Peace  of  prayer,  and  peace  of  [lardon. 
Peace  of  Christ,  and  joy  of  Mary  1" ' 

The  Jesuit  of  the  Missions  of  Canada,  so  called,  still 
found  at  the  old  grounds,  Saut  Saint  Mary's,  Holy 
Cross,  and  Sacred  Heart,  has  now  a  more  modern  cen- 
tral post,  at  the  extreme  northern  verge  of  Lake  Su- 
perior, the  Mission   of  tho  Immaculate   Conception. 

'  Longfellow's  "  Song  of  Hiawatha,"  xxii. 


m 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Marx 


'1 


From  this  they  go  forth  to  visit  their  numerous  sta- 
tions, at  thirty,  sixty,  uud  one  luuulred  miles  distance. 
Nortluvard  to  the  nomad  tribes  wliieh  stray  over  the 
wastes  which  are  clad  with  six  mouths  of  winter ;  over 
vast  turbulent  streams,  and  counth^ss  lakes,  and  uu- 
sheltered  level  lands,  where  the  biting  wind  s\ver[»s 
barrierless.  The  Iroquoii.*  who,  of  old,  was  the  peril 
of  the  Mission,  and  so  often  the  murderer  of  the  mis- 
sionary, is  found  now  amid  the  far  western  tribes,  a 
missionary  himself :  a  ri^tainer  and  earnest  lover  of  the 
early  tradition  of  the  131ack-robes.'  But  if  that  kiud 
of  martyrdom  lias  nearly  ceased,  the  slow,  silent  nuu- 
tyrdom  by  toil,  starvation,  frost,  still  allures  the  de- 
voted sold  from  the  jo}S  (jf  the  world,  tu  Beif-sacritico 
for  the  Hearts  ol  Jesus  and  Mary. 

The  letters  from  the  Mission  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception  in  1854:,  ditl'er  from  those  of  Kiol 
only  in  this,  that  the  scalping-knife,  tlit!  stake,  ni\i]  Hid 
tomahawk,  figure  in  them  less  freely,  and  that  conso- 
lations are  more  abundant  from  the  fidelity  of  the  poor 
Indian  Christiana  who  iidiabit  those  wilds.  Father 
Fremiot  writes  to  his  Snp(!rior  such  a  letter  as  Dabloii 
might  have  Avritten  to  his," 

"  I  will  not  here  describe  to  you  our  poverty,  our 
trials,  and  misfortunes.     A  hasty  glance   at  our  first 


'  \\  II  hliall  Hee  tlits  cflorta  of  tlicso  Iroquois  iiiis.sioniuics  dinctly, 
and  in  Father  do  Hniet's  "Sketches,"  p.  !)1,  wiioro  lio  nttributcs  tliu 
conversion  of  those  Fluthuuds,  under  Uod,  to  the  once  blood-iapiiijig 
Iroquois. 

'  Anualus,  xv.  181.    American  edition. 


V.  Mauy 

tlicir  nnuiovoua  stu- 
uli'cil  miloH  distance, 
which  stray  over  the 
juths  of  wiiitur  ;  over 
inthiss  hikes,  and  uu- 
1  biting  wind  swcl|)s 

of  ohl,  was  the  peril 

murderer  of  the  mi.s- 
5  far  WGstcru  tribi'S,  a 
lid  uariu'st  lover  of  tho 
cs.'  But  if  that  laud 
1,  Ihe  slow,  silent  niiir- 
it,  Ktill  allures  the  de- 

world,  to  seii-saeritlco 

,f  Our  Liidy  of  the  Iiu- 
tl'er  from  those  of  idol 
lit".!,  the  stalitt,  iniil  tho 
frisely,  and  that  coiiso- 
the  fidelity  of  the  poor 
those  Avilds.  l^allitr 
Isuch  a  letter  as  Dablou 

you  our  poverty,  our 
pty  glance  at  our  iirst 


IN  Nonxn  America. 


411 


i()(luoi8  missionaries  directly, 
I.  i.n,  wliero  ho  nttributca  tho 
jd,  to  tlio  ouco  blood-lai.i)i:ig 


proconding«  would  show  you  that  uiir  only  church  was 
a  small  chapel,  oxtempori/ed  in  one  day,  and  built  of 
hark  ;  and  in  tho  next  place,  you  would  witness  the 
sinister  glare  of  a  firo  amid  tho  winter's  ice,  des'roying 
our  now  house,  raised  by  tho  penny  subscriptions  of 
the  poor  and  tho  orphans.  You  would  also  see  that, 
for  eighteen  months,  di^ath  has  boon  carrying  ofT,  with- 
out jut}',  our  beloved  children,  and  thus  causing  the 
Black-gowns  ai  d  tiu'ir  i)rayers  to  bo  blasjdienied  ;  for 
the  superst'.cion  or  the  bad  faith  of  these  people  leads 
them  to  atti-ibuto  to  us  theso  scourges  of  Divine  wrath. 

"  But  I  did  not  intend  to  make  you  share  Avith  us 
tho  bitter  cup  of  nir  atllicttions.  Tiot  us  change  our 
theme.  You  hnxo  hnd  a  glance  at  the  cross  and  the 
thorns:  behold  nov  .\Iar3',  tho  Jnother  of  good  hope, 
with  a  (Hmntenance  iidiant  with  love,  and  her  hands 
filled  with  heavenly  blessings,  which  she  scatters,  like 
11  fcitilizing  shower,  upon  tho  heads  of  her  littlo  In- 
dian family.  Ah!  if  it  is  true  that  no  '>no  need  de- 
spair beneath  the  shadow  of  her  name,  how  can  we  im- 
uyiiie  that  she  Avill  permit  this  nascent  Mission  to 
perish,  since  its  future  destiny  is  placed  under  the 
glorious  title  of  the  ImniaciiJate  Concvpllon  ?  Is  not 
this  that  tower  of  David,  from  which  a  thousand 
shields  are  suspended  for  the  defence  of  those  whom  it 
is  to  proteet?  Moreover,  was  there  ever  an  ago  in 
which  this  prerogative  pr(!seiited  an  aspect  so  promis- 
ing for  the  future?  Where  could  wo  find,  at  the  present 
day,  a  more  secure  pledge  of  protection,  hope,  and  life? 

"The  experience  of  the  past  already  seems  to  an- 


412 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Maiiy 


r\i- 


swor  for  tlui  futiiro.  Tlio  fiiif^cr  of  Clod  has  Htuini)i!il 
our  woi'k,  wliioh  is  His  own,  with  a  hiHtiii;^'  imi)ri!HH  of 
the  Cross;  hut  from  tho  mjitorual  hi'iirt  of  ^r.-ir}-,  :i  iVw 
drops  of  coiiHohii}^  lialiii  liavo  ahvady  fancii  upon  us." 
Tho  Ciovcriiincnt  of  tho  Uiiit(>d  States,  in  puisuaucii  of 
its  iinineinorial  custom  of  extruding  the  Indians  from 
its  territories,  forced  hirgo  hands  of  tho  unforliiuuto 
rod-num,  who  still  hngorod  oast  of  tho  ^Mississippi, 
into  tho  nortliern  lands  beyond  tlio  great  hdces;  aiid 
those  immigrations  aro  hailed  by  tho  missionary  uh 
now  grain  to  bo  cultured  and  reaped  for  tho  harvest 
of  God. 

"I  have  already,"  says  tho  pious  Father,  "bapti/cd 
the  rirst-l'niits  of  these  future  neophytes:  of  those  \vho, 
with  God's  permission,  aro  to  be  tho  objects  of  our 
affection  here,  our  consolation  on  earth,  and  our  crowu 
of  glory  in  heaven."  When  this  Lidian  woman  is 
questioncnl  by  Father  Fremiot,  as  to  tho  motive  wliinh 
induced  her  to  embrace  tho  Prayer,  ?\ie  tells  him  this 
story. 

"  One  day,  I  W(!nt  with  my  three  children  to  an 
island  in  Lake  Nipigon,  about  ten  miles  from  the  laiul. 
While  eating  some  myrtle-berries  and  other  wild  fruits, 
a  violent  wind  rose  upon  tho  lake,  and  the  waves, 
gradually  rising,  at  length  carried  off  my  canoe,  whifli 
I  had  loft  close  to  tho  bank.  There  I  was,  alone  and 
helpless,  upon  a  desert  isle,  with  my  children ;  I 
thought  wo  sliould  all  bo  lost.  I  did  not,  however, 
give  way  to  despau-,  out  resolved  to  find  out  some 
means  of  saving  my  life  and  that  of  my  children.    I 


.  Y.  Mahy 

r  of  Ooil  Ima  fitampiul 
1  a  liistiii;^'  iinpriiHs  of 
il  lu'iirt  of  ^liiry,  ii  iVw 
IrtMuly  fallen  n\nn\  us." 
StiitcH,  ill  i)iiisu:uic(>  of 
ulin^  tlio  Imliiius  from 
Ills  of  the  nnforlmmto 
Lst   of   tho  ^lisslsHippi, 
I  tlio  groat  lakes ;  and 
by  tho  mlssioiiiiry  us 
reaped  for  the  harvest 

nous  Father,  "  bapti/cil 

eopliytes :  of  those  who, 
bo  the   objects  of  our 

)ii  oartli,  aiul  our  crown 
this  IniliiUi  woman  is 
as  to  tho  motive  wliicli 

fayer,  ;-;ho  tells  him  this 

y  three   chiltlren  to  iiu 
ten  miles  from  tho  lainl. 
ics  anil  other  wild  fruitfi, 
le  liilce,  auil  the  waves, 
licil  otr  my  canoe,  which 
There  I  was,  alone  and 
with   my   chiklrcu ;   I 
it.     I  did  not,  however, 
lolved  to  find  out  somo 
that  of  my  children.    I 


IN  NoilTlI   AMKniOA. 


413 


niado  n  sort  of  raft  with  two  pieces  of  wood  tied  to- 
gcllier  with  flexible  roots,  and  oronidiin^  upon  it  as  if 
in  a  canoe,  I  seized  an  oar  and  pushed  oil'.  The  storm 
had  fortunately  been  Hucceedinl  by  a  c()iii])l(!to  calm, 
uiiiler  favor  of  which,  I  reached  the  land  without  acci- 
ilent.  But  I  luid  no  sooner  landed,  than  tho  wavos 
hogan  to  rise  anew,  so  that  had  I  been  still  in  tho  mid- 
dle of  tho  lake,  I  must  have  perished.  I  hastened  in 
qu(>st  of  n  canoe,  that  I  might  return  to  fetch  my  dear 
children,  whoso  cries  of  distress  I  could  still  hiiar  in 
tho  distance.  At  length  I  discovered  tho  object  of  my 
search,  and  immediately  end)arked  to  I'etnrn.  The 
water  had  again  becimio  calm,  and  I  reached  n)y  chil- 
div.n,  just  before  sunset,  and  fovuid  tlunn  all  alive. 
Then  it  was  that  I  recollected  hearing  our  (dd  men 
speak  of  the  Great  Si)irit,  wlum  I  was  still  a  idiild. 
'He  is  above,'  they  used  to  say;  'lie  it  is  who  mado 
the  earth  and  all  things ;  lie  is  the  ^Master  of  Tdfe.'  I 
had  never  thought  of  this  for  a  long  period  ;  l)ut  I  now 
felt  that  it  was  He  who  had  sent  this  extraordinary 
calm  ;  that  it  was  to  Him  my  cliildren  and  I  wore  in- 
debted for  Ovir  lives.  And  hence,  when  1  heard  tho 
prayer  of  the  Great  Spirit  mentioned,  I  felt  an  i^arnest 
desire  to  learn  and  embrace  it.'  "  And  indiHul,  this 
poor  woman  surprised  every  one  by  the  promptitude 
with  which  she  learnt  the  Christian  truths,  although 
she  only  heard  them  publicly  anmmnccd  from  time  to 
time  in  the  church.  I  gave  this  good  ueophyto  tho 
name  of  Mary  Anne." 
As  for  his  Catholics,  it  is  nearly  all  consolation. 


iU 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


They  are  so  imcivilizeil  and  barbarous  as  to  practise 
what  they  profess.  One  of  these  savages,  closely  ox- 
ammetl  a  year  after  his  baptism  by  Father  de  Smot, 
said,  with  some  siirjn'ise  in  his  tone  :  "  No,  Father,  I 
have  done  none  of  these  things.  Did  I  not  pwmm 
the  Master  of  Life  and  you  to  abstain  from  them?" 
Here,  about  the  Mission  of  the  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion, they  are  like  nearly  all  the  other  Cntholic  Indians 
— thoy  have  "  become  like  little  children."  Except  tlie 
Kyvle  cleiHon,  which  they  sing,  Father  Fremiot  says,  iu 
Lafin,^  they  sing,  congregationally,  the  Mass  and  A'^os- 
pers,  in  their  own  dialect,  to  the  notes  of  the  Roman 
chant ;  and,  at  sundown,  on  the  day  of  the  Lord,  thoy 
gather,  for  tlie fourth  time  that  ilmj,  to  recite  in  common 
the  Rosary  of  Our  Lady  Mary  the  Immaculate. 

It  is  cold  there  in  the  winter.  "A  yoiing  man,  who 
was  travelling  in  the  woods,  arrived  hero  with  his 
cheeks  and  chin  frozen  black  and  blue  ;  and  I  myself, 
on  going  to  the  fort  by  a  road  through  the  forests, 
took  ofF  my  gloves  for  about  two  minutes  to  wi[)e  my 
spectacles,  covered  with  a  double  coat  of  ice,  caused 
by  the  respiration,  for  I  had  a  shawl  over  my  face ; 
but  I  found  it  v.tterly  impracticable.  My  l)reath,  in- 
stead of  melting  the  ice,  only  served  to  thicken  it.  I 
could  not  have  thought  that  this  operation  would  havo 
frozen  mj  fingers ;  but  I  became  painfully  aware  of  it 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards,  on  entering  a  liouso 
and  experiencing  a  sudden  transition  from  cold  to  heiit. 

'  Annales,  xv.  185. 


IN  North  AjrERicA. 


415 


I  went  out  immediately  to  rub  tliem  in  snow ;  but  it 
Wcas  already  a  little  too  late,  and  tliis  painful  sensation 
continued  for  two  or  three  days.  On  this  occasion, 
also,  wo  were  obliged  to  thaw  the  chali(;e  three  times 
during  one  Mass,  although  there  was  b}'  the  side  of 
the  priest  a  cliafingdish,  and  two  stoves  in  the  chapel. 
But  what  will  appear  to  you  still  more  incredible  is. 
that  the  wine  actually  froze  in  the  cruet,  placed  only 
half  a  foot  above  the  stove!  A  journey  during  this 
season  is  not  exactly  like  a  pleasure  excursion.  Ima- 
gine that  on  some  occasions,  as  was  the  case  last 
spring,  we  have  to  walk  on  the  melting  ice,  softened 
to  the  depth  of  half  a  foot,  or  make  our  way,  with  a 
watchful  oxe,  across  the  clefts  which  present  tlunn- 
solves  on  all  sides.  Sometimes,  also,  as  it  happened 
this  winter-,  we  have  to  cross  the  woods,  Avithout  anv 
road  to  guide  us,  wandering  from  the  early  morning 
till  nine  or  ten  at  night.  Once,  for  example,  in  cross- 
ing a  lake  at  night  by  the  light  of  birch-bark  torches, 
^\o  tread  ujion  t!io  newly-skimmed  surface  of  a  wide 
crevice,  and  are  Avell  drenched  for  our  carelessness ; 
but  the  December  Avind  soon  freezes  our  garments, 
and  we  do  not  feel  the  wet.  Only  sometimes,  on  these 
occasions,  we  recall  our  recreation  Avalks  over  the  hills 
of  sunny  southern  France,  where,  somcwliat  nearer  to 
the  skyey  regions,  Ave  raised  our  voices  to  her  Avho  is 
their  Qu(.'(vn,  in  the  strains  of  the  Salve  licgina. 

"This,  hoAvcA'or,  is  not  the  south  of  France.  There 
is  our  trip  to  Prince's  Bay — latitude 'lir""  50';  air  very 
pure  there  in  the  month  of  January ;  bracing,  indeed, 


416 


Devotion  to  tiie  B.  V.  Mary 


as  wcll-\\Tappecl-up  old  gentlemen  call  it  wlicn  they 
see  a  youngster  sliiver.  We  started  for  the  bay  at  two 
in  the  morning,  intending  to  walk  across  the  ice  and  to 
sleep  on  the  other  side.  There  had  been  a  recent 
thaw,  but  we  had  forgotten  all  about  that,  and  noAV  it 
recurred  to  our  remembrance. 

"  There  was,  indeed,  still  some  ice ;  but  it  was  so 
thin  that  it  would  have  been  folly  to  venture  upon  it. 
We  were  consequently  obliged  to  make  up  our  minds 
to  encamp  even  at  this  unseasonable  hour.  The  snow 
was  falling  in  large  flakes,  and  we  could  scarcely  see 
two  steps  before  us.  We  bogan  by  setting  fire  to  a 
birch-tree.  Tlie  bark  immediatel}'  ignited  to  the  very 
top ;  and,  by  the  light  of  tliis  burning  column,  one 
shook  the  snow  from  the  trees  under  which  wo  were  to 
camp  ;  another,  using  his  snow-shoe  as  a  substitute  for 
a  shovel,  cleared  the  place  of  encampment ;  and  a  third 
went  in  quest  of  dried  wood  to  feed  the  ^rc  during  tlio 
night.  After  having  taken  a  frugal  meal,  eacli  one  lay 
down  to  rest  upon  a  few  fir-branches,  near  the  extem- 
poraneous hearth. 

"  I  wrapped  myself  up  as  well  as  I  coidd  in  my 
blanket  and  butTalo  skin  ;  but  although  the  snow  had 
been  shaken  from  the  tree  under  which  I  was  lying, 
there  was  still  some  left,  which,  being  melted  by  tlie 
smoke,  fell  in  large  drops  upon  my  face.  Of  this 
circumstance  I  became  painfully  aware,  when  I  was 
wakened  out  of  my  first  sleep  by  the  cold,  f(n'  the  sky 
had  becon,<)  clear,  and  a  cold,  frosty  wind  blew  across 
the  desert.     I  awolfo  my  men,  who  went  to  cut  some 


x«4  ; 


V.  Mary 


IN  North  America. 


417 


len  call  it  wlieii  tliey 
•ted  for  the  bay  at  two 
Ic  across  the  ice  and  to 
o  had  been  a  recent 
about  that,  and  now  it 

me  ice  ;  but  it  was  so 
dly  to  venture  upon  it. 
to  make  up  our  minds 
nable  hour.     The  snow 

we  coidd  scarcely  see 
;an  by  setting  fire  to  a 
itely  ignited  to  the  very 
s  burning  colunm,  one 
under  wliich  wo  were  to 
-shoe  as  a  sul)stitute  for 
icampment ;  and  a  third 

feed  the  "ire  during  the 
ugal  meal,  each  one  lay 
auchcs,  near  the  extcm- 

well  as  I  coidd  in  my 
although  the  snow  had 
iider  which  I  was  lying, 
■h,  being  melted  by  the 
pon  my  face.  Of  this 
illy  aware,  when  I  was 
by  the  cold,  for  the  sky 
frosty  whid  blcAV  across 
who  went  to  cut  some 


wood  by  moonlight.  For  my  part,  I  turned  my  face 
down  upon  the  bed,  leaving  the  drops  of  water  to  con- 
geal quietly  over  my  head.  In  the  morning,  the  ice  of 
the  bay  was  broken  into  thousands  of  pieces.  Hoav- 
ever,  after  a  long  winding,  we  arrived  at  length  at  the 
house  whei'o  wc  were  so  anxious  to  arrive  the  night 
before.  There  we  spent  the  remainder  of  tlie  day ;  and 
ahhough  the  boards  were  our  only  bed,  we  slept  there 
much  better  than  beneath  the  dropping  of  the  forest 
trees. 

"But  what  are  all  these  advent'.ires,  fatigues,  and  even 
dangers !  If  at  this  price,  the  priest  should  only  suc- 
ceed iu  adding  one  neophyte  to  this  mysterious  num- 
ber of  the  elect,  he  would  have  no  reason  to  regret  the 
sacrifice  he  has  made.  He  would  recall  to  mind  the 
sentence  of  Saint  Francis  Xavier ;  '  To  go  to  the 
Morld's  end  to  save  a  soul  and  then  die,  is  an  enviable 
fate.'  " 

It  has  happened  to  this  missicnary  to  be  caught  in 
a  stu^'ra,  towards  nightfuU,  on  that  grand  inland  sea, 
and  .n  order  to  save  the  canoe  and  its  contents,  to  land 
upon  an  island  rock,  as  the  only  visible  sliclter  and 
place  of  safety.  On  the  top  of  the  rock,  some  eigh- 
teen feet  high,  they  found  a  few  dead  fir-trees,  which 
gave  them  fire  at  least.  Around  them  lay  many  well- 
bleached  bones  of  the  wild  Huron  and  Iro(piois  of  old. 
There  they  slept,  and  when  morning  dawned,  they 
added  to  their  usual  prayers  those  two  grand  hymns  to 
sweet  Mary  Mother,  the  Salve  JRcgina  and  the  Inviolata 

There  they  pass,  fasting,  the  whole  day  :  very  appro- 
cc 


418 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mart 


\}-y 


\y 


,;l 


priate  that  fasting,  thinks  the  Jesuit,  "  for  it  is  Friday 
in  Ember  week,"  and  with  the  coming  down  of  tlio 
shadows,  came  also  a  furious  and  nigh+-l-ng  rain- 
storm, "  with  peals  of  thunder  and  terrible  flashes  of 
lightning." 

Father  Frc'miot  thus  continues  his  narrative  :  "  At 
length,  on  Saturday-,  the  Avind  veering  to  the  northeast, 
rolls  the  waves,  gradually  increasiiig  in  size,  against 
the  rock  to  which  our  canoe  is  fastened,  and  makes  ns 
apprehensive  that,  if  we  defer  any  longer,  we  shall  not 
be  able  to  launch  her  again.  But  whither  sliall  we  go? 
The  stoiUi  prevents  us  from  returning  to  the  Immacu- 
late Conception.     Let  us  cross  the  lake. 

"  We  say  the  Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  pre- 
pare for  the  worst.  The  wind  is  on  our  side,  and  wo 
set  up  our  blanket  for  a  sail.  Jjj  this  means  \\\i  ad- 
vance a  little  ;  but  the  north  wind  gradually  i" creases 
the  force  of  its  blast ;  (>normous  waves,  .vliite  -wUli 
foam,  rise  before  us  in  rapid  succession  ;  we  cut  tlioni 
in  the  middle,  however,  tolerably  well ;  but  when  wo 
arrived  in  the  open  water,  about  half-way  across,  tlio 
billows  become  irregular  and  the  danger  serious.  Our 
only  rower  begins  to  lose  courage.  '  I  said  how  it 
woiild  be,'  he  muttered  ;  '  the  wind  is  too  sti'ong  ;  let 
us  return.'  The  other  was  of  a  different  opinion.  '  Let 
us  return,'  I  said  myself,  *  if  there  is  less  danger  than 
in  advancing.'  '  The  danger  is  equal,'  lie  repli(  d. 
'  Courage,  then,  my  boys :  mind  how  you  meet  the 
waves,  and  place  confidence  in  Him  for  whose  glory  we 
are  laboring.     Wo  have  not  undertalcen  this  voyage 


IN  North  America. 


419 


;.  V.  Mart 

psuit,  "  for  it  is  Friday 
coming  down  of  tlio 
and    nigl'^--l-^ng  ruiii- 

and  terrible  fliisli(,'s  of 

cs  his  narrative  :  "At 
?ering  to  the  northeast, 
L^ashig  in  size,  against 
fastened,  and  malc(!S  ns 
iBy  longer,  we  shall  not 
;iit  whither  shall  we  go? 
hirning  to  the  Inimacu- 
the  lahe. 

31essea  Virgin,  and  prc- 
l  is  on  our  side,  and  we 
By  this  means  wo  ad- 
ind  gradually  i- creases 
ons  waves,    .vhite  willi 
.ucccssion  ;  we  cut  them 
.l)ly  well ;  but  when  wc 
)ut  half-way  across,  tlie 
lie  danger  serious.     Our 
ura^'e.     '  T  said  how  it 
wind  is  too  strong  ;  let 
dilTerent  opinion.    '  Let 
;liero  is  less  danger  than 
is  equal,'   he  replied 
|ind  how  you  meet  the 
Him  for  whose  glory  wo 
imdertaken  this  voyage 


from  motives  of  pleasure  or  interest,  but  solely  for  the 
service  of  the  Great  Spirit ;  He  will  watch  over  us.  I 
will  pray  while  you  work.'  '  Yes,  Father,  iutercedo 
earnestly  with  the  Great  Spirit,'  said  the  oarsman,  a 
heathen.  'Without  doubt,  my  son  ;  do  you  also  pray 
to  Him  in  your  heart,  and  ply  your  oar  vigorously.' 
And,  while  I  was  repeating  my  llosary  very  devoutly, 
I  saw  the  young  man  moving  his  lips  as  if  reciting  a 
prayer." 

Next  day  the  pangs  of  hunger  are  rather  sharp,  but 
one  effect  of  this  is  salutary.  "  When  we  rjpeat  the 
'  Our  Father,'  we  have  unusual  earnestness  in  the  peti- 
tion '  Give  us  to-day  our  daily  bread.'  And  wc  did 
indeed  recite  it  with  feivor,  accompanied  with  a  prayer 
to  the  Blessed  ^  irgin  for  calm  on  iho  following  day. 
IL:  jmra  tntiim/'  and  so  at  length  on  Siinday  "we 
reach  Rock  Harbor  in  time  to  recite  with  tlie  Indians 
the  Rosary  and  the  Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin." 
And  then  Father  Fremiot  signs  himself,  "  Yours  faith- 
fully, in  the  Sacred  Hearts  of  desus  and  of  Mar}'." 

While  these,  then,  keep  the  ilelds  which  the  prowess 
of  their  predecessors  won  for  our  Blessed  M(jther  east 
of  the  Fathei  of  Waters,  others  start  westward  from 
that  stream,  and  conquering  the  wild  tribes  of  the 
hison-trodden  prairies,  pass  the  savage  gorges  and  tall 
peaks  of  the  Rocky  Mountaiiis,  and  plant  the  everlast- 
ing Cross  upon  the  strand  of  the  Northern  Pacific. 
Tlieir  limits  are,  hitherward,  the  Mississippi  States ; 
beyond,  the  long  shore-line  of  the  great  ocean  as  it 
runs  northerly  from  California,  past  Oregon,  and  tlieu 


420 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  MAiii 


trends:,  westward  and  northward  to  55°  north  hititude, 
near  the  regions  of  perpetual  sno'  'S.  On  our  way 
thither,  if  wo  go  by  the  north,  let  us  hear  from  Futlicr 
Eayolle,  Apostt^lic  Missionary  in  Minnesota,  his  means 
of  confidence  when,  in  185G,  he  enters  the  territory  of 
the  terril)le  Sioux.  He  tells  us  that  "  having  set  out 
from  Saint  Paul's  on  the  6th  of  August,  I  reached,  ou 
the  8tli,  the  caravan  of  Pembina,  at  the  point  where  it 
crosses  tlie  Mississippi.  This  was  my  Ilubicou.  I 
p'lssed  it  in  a  light  canoe  ;  I  then  went  on  my  knees  to 
offer  my  life  to  God,  to  implore  Ins  protection,  and  to 
recommend  myself  to  Mary."  Then  when  he  comes 
into  the  very  presence  of  the  peril,  it  is  tlius  that  lio 
takes  courage  and  imparts  it. 

"Although  but  a  small  number,  the  half-breeds  were 
confident  of  their  ability  to  defeat  three  hundred  Sioux. 
The  former  are  brave,  and  well  skilled  in  warfare; 
they  load  and  fire,  on  horseback,  with  extraordinurv 
rapidity,  and  in  this  consists  their  great  superiority 
over  the  savages.  Besides  this,  wo  placed  our  hopes 
in  God ;  we  reflected  that  Mary  was  with  us.  My 
companions  observed :  '  There  are  many  persons  at 
Pembina  who  are  praying  for  us,  and  who  are  j)erforiii- 
ing  ex'^rcises  of  devotion  for  our  intention.'  We  said 
prayers  in  common  every  evening,  and  when,  in 
conclusion,  I  recommended  our  vo3\'ige  to  the  good 
Mother,  they  responded  with  especial  devotion.  On 
Sunday,  we  had  Mass  in  the  morning,  and  the  Ptosary 
in  the  evening-  On  the  Feast  of  the  Assumption,  the 
altar  was  erected  on  the  banks  of  a  beautiful  lake,  and 


5ns  eSS!'"!' 


IN  North  America. 


421 


lighted  up  by  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun.  This  was 
probably'  the  first  time  that  Jesus  Christ  h.ad  been 
offered  up  in  these  solitudes ;  the  first  time  that  the 
triumph  of  the  Queen  of  Angels  had  been  mentioned, 
or  the  happiness  of  loving  her.  Hope  in  Mary  is 
honey  of  the  desert,  the  refuge  of  the  traveller,  an  im- 
pregnable rampart  against  every  enemy.  AYlienever 
you  go  to  Notre  Dame,  beg  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  that 
my  love  for  her  may  increase,  that  I  may  labor  for  her 
honor  until  the  end  of  my  life,  and  that  at  my  last 
hour  I  may  obtain  her  powerful  intercession."  ' 

In  far  Kansas,  Oregon,  and  those  Eoclcy  Mountain 
lands,  however,  as  all  scholars  know  and  speak  of,  as 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  is  aware  of,  to 
its  benc^fit,  what  dominion  based  on  love  there  is 
among  the  wild  men,  is  given  to  the  Blaek-robe  by 
these  grateful  Americans.  Start  from  the  central 
point,  St.  Louis,  and  push  your  way  anywhither 
towards  the  Eocky  Mountains,  and  you  Avill  bo  sure, 
by  and  by,  to  see  a  picture  like  this. 


evening,  and  Avhen,  iu 
)ur  voyage  to  the  good 
especial  devotion.  On 
norning,  and  the  llosary 
of  the  Assumption,  the 
of  a  beautiful  lake,  and 


" '  On  the  western  slope  of  these  mountains, 
Dwells  in  his  little  village  the  lihick-robe  chief  of  the  Mission. 
Much  he  teaches  the  people,  and  tells  them  of  Mary  ami  Jesus  ; 
Loud  lam;h  tliuir  hearts  with  joy,  and  weep  with  pain,  as  they  hear 

him.' 
Thither  they  turned  their  steeds ;  and  behind  a  spur  of  the  meun- 

tains, 
Just  as  the  sun  went  down,  they  lieard  a  raunnur  of  voices, 
And  in  a  meadow  green  and  broad,  by  the  banks  of  a  river, 
Saw  tlie  tenia  of  the  Christians,  the  tents  of  the  Jesuit  Mission. 

'  Annalcs,  xxx.  88.    Baltimore  edition. 


422 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


U:!.li>f  a  towci'inn:  oak,  that  stood  in  tlio  mUlat  of  the  villn^jo, 
Knolt  tho  Hlack-robo  cliiof  with  Viis  children.    A  crucifix  fastened 
Higii  on  tlif  trunk  of  tho  troo,  anu  nvoivshudowod  hy  grape  vhitiH, 
Looked  with  its  ug      -■id  f;.,      -ix  tl  i  multitude  kneeling-  l)eueiith  it. 
TV, 'a  was      ('ir  rur.,*    'iiip«"i.     Aio  •'.,    lirouirh  tlio  intrh'ate  archi's 
Of  its  aerial  roof,  n'-oti  f,he  chant  of  their  vespers, 
Mingling  iis  notes  .vitj'         ■.fti  ■taf'rrus  and  bigiis  of  tho  hranches. 
Silent,  with  heads  uncoverei,  tlit  'Hers,  nearer  apj)reacliing, 

Knolt  on  the  swarded  floor,  and  joined  ui  the  evening  di'vutions. 
But  wh  'n  tlie  service  was  done,  and  the  benidiction  had  i'liUen 
Forth  Ironi  tho  hands  of  the  priest,  like  seed  from  tho  hands  of  tlie 

sower, 
Slowly  thc!  reverend  man  advanced  to  the  strangers,  and  hade  them 
Welcome." ' 

Ex  v)io  (hfico  omnes.  Wo  shall  only  ft^llow  one  of 
these  servants  and  cliildiHui  of  Mary,  and  hint  so 
slightly  that  this  shall  not  merit  to  be  called  even  a 
sketch,  for,  in  all  that  vast  territory,  I  know  not  whotlier 
there  be  any  thing,  gi'eat  or  small,  that  he  has  not 
seen  ;  out  of  which  he  has  not  drawn  profit  for  Innnaii 
souls,  instruction  for  human  minds  Tho  auth(n'i(ics 
of  Washington  thank  him  for  the  topograpliy  of  tliose 
lands  of  tlieirs  ;  the  army  asks  his  attendance,  with  till 
respect  for  their  valor,  as  a  safeguard.  No  savage  so 
wild,  as  will  not,  at  least,  listen  to  him.  As  he  threads 
the  immemorial  forests  he  classifies  the  trees ;  as  ho 
moves  over  the  prairies  he  notes  and  catalogues  tho 
wild-flower  and  the  esc\ilcnt  or  medicinal  weed. 

The  haunts  and  habits  of  the  grizzl}'^  bear  tiud  wolf; 
the  marks  and  seasons  of  the  rock  antelope,  and  tall, 
peak-loving  Avdd  sheep ;  the  dam  of  the  beaver ;  tlie 

'  Longfellow's  "  Evangeline,"  iv. 


fi 


;.  V.  Mary 


IN  NonTIT  AlvTERICA. 


423 


midst  of  the  villnjr<^. 

Ircn.     A  crucifix  I'listont^d 

iiudowed  by  graix'  vin.w. 

iltitudo  knei'lini'-  lifiu'ntli  It. 

iUirli  till?  intricate!  lu-clu's 

r  vi'spors, 

IS  and  biglia  of  tho  bnmclius. 

llcrs,  nearer  a\>i)niaclung, 

,u  the  .-vening  dcv(.tioiis. 

o  bentdiction  bad  iiiUi'u 

,0  seed  from  the  bauds  of  tlie 

;be  strangers,  and  bade  lliem 

Aiall  only  follow  one  of 
of    Mary,   and  liim  so 
icrit  to  bo  called  even  a 
itovy,  I  know  not  wlietlior 
small,  tliat  lie  1ms  nut 
t  drawn  profit  for  liuimin 
minds     The  authorities 
the  topography  of  those 
Is  his  attendance,  with  all 
.afognard.     No  savage  so 
,11  to  him.     As  he  threads 
flassifies  the  trees;  as  lie 
totes  and  catalogues  llio 
(1-  medicinal  weed, 
be  grizzly  bear  and  wolf; 
rock  antelope,  and  tall, 
dam  of  the  beaver ;  tlie 


Ung'^li'^'^'"  IV. 


lurking-place  m  the  mink;  the  spot  where  the  otter 
ot'f  M  >st  plunges  in  the  pool  tli  ■  lino  whom  the  rabbit 
bt^gins  to  grow  white,  a7id  tliat  from  which  the  wiry 
pniiinc  leaps  almost  invisible  over  suoavs  no  more  spot- 
less, save  the  black  tail  tip,  than  himself :  all  these, 
and  the  ^-eins  of  the  minerals,  arc  most  sih  utl}'  taken 
note  of  by  this  apostle.  Read  one  letter,  and  you 
would  say  tliis  m^^n  has  done  little  but  hunt ;  from  a 
second,  you  w^uld  fancy  him  a  naturalist ;  from  a 
third,  a  mere  painter  or  poet  revelling  in  the  grandeur 
mid  beauty  oi  tlie  nature  he  surveys — were  it  not  tliat 
in  all  you  see  the  presence  of  God  ;  the  ceaseless  zeal 
for  His  greater  glory  ;  the  devotion,  as  a  mental  char- 
acter, to  the  Heart  of  Jesus;  the  child's  loving  reliance 
on  the  gentle  heart  of  Immaculate  Mother  Mary. 

He  is  a  man  past  sixty,  twenty-three  ycMvrs  (^f  them 
on  these  Indian  Missions ;  robust,  tall,  straight  as  a 
pine,  silver  haired  now  as  the  poplar  of  the  country. 
Ho  is  grave,  quiet,  simjile,  dignifiiHl.  Bronzed,  silent 
and  (piick,  obsfu'vant-ev'ed  as  he  is,  he  might  be  a 
Delaware  or  Omaha  chief.  Very  earnest  and  straight- 
forward, but  of  feminine  gentleness  and  modesty  :  full, 
also,  of  merriment  of  the  silent  kind ;  laughing  more 
with  the  eyes  than  with  the  lips.  A  foe  to  no  man  liv- 
ing ;  a  friend  whom  all  joxiv  prosperity  can  attach  no 
more  close  1}%  whom  all  your  adversity  could  not  sepa- 
rate from  your  side.  An  Indian  Missionary,  this  man  ; 
a  Black-robe,  servant  of  God,  a  child  of  Mercy,  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Company  of  Jesus. 
It  was  in  the  year  1840  that  Father  de  Smet  started 


irTiwff' 


i!!l 


«il 


424 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


on  Ins  first  expndition  for  tlio  iTiflians  wiih  ^N'liom  ]iU 
name  was  to  be  so  tondorly  and  iiidissnlul)lv  niiitofl. 
The  first  force  of  sava{];os  whom  lie  moots  aro  tlio  Slie- 
ycnnos,  who  welcome  him  wariiilv,  tlioir  groat  cliirf 
ordering  throe  of  his  fattest  (Jofis  to  be  served  up  as  a 
banquet  for  the  Blacl<-robo  whom  he  d(>]ightod  to 
honor.'  By  July,  ho  encounters  the  Flathead  dopntn- 
tion  who  have  come  to  moot  him,  and  in  the  Octave  of 
Our  Lady's  Visitation  they  roach  the  groat  cmiip. 
Ah,  how  they  welcome  him!  with  what  ear.iost  joy! 
with  what  simplicity  of  devotion !  "  Kdi'lriJiyir.nsfcn, 
the  Groat  Spirit,"  so  speaks  the  high  chief,  "  has  a"- 
complished  our  wishes  and  our  hearts  swell  Avitli  joy." 
That  night  two  thousand  red-slcins  assomblod  bo- 
fore  the  Blaclv-robe's  lodge  for  night  prayers.  By  t1:e 
next  year,  the  Mission  of  Saint  Mary's  was  comph^tdy 
established,  and  the  Flathoads  and  other  tribes  fonucil 
a  Christian  people.  In  all  his  wanderings  at  this  time, 
he  was  treated  kindly  as  soon  as  known.  Even  tlio 
tierce  Blackfoet  Sioux  reooivcd  him  with  reverence  nw 
listened  to  his  instructions.  He  visited  thirtv-six  dil- 
ferent  tribes,  numbering  at  least  forty  thousand  sonls. 
Wandering  among  them  he  found  a  countryman,  Jo!;; 
Baptist  de  Velder,  from  Ghent,  an  ex-grcnadior  of 
Napoleon,  who  had  exchanged  grenade  and  axe  for 
rifle  and  fur-trap,  and  had  dwelt  thirty  years  now  in 


Xy!: 


1  Letters  and  Sketches,  witli  a  narrative  of  a  year's  residence  ainoiii,' 
the  Indian  tribes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  By  P.  J.  de  Smut,  of  tlio 
Society  of  Jesus.    Pliiladelphia,  1843. 


V.  Matiy 

[tiflians  witli  whom  Iih 
id  inclissolubly  miito<l. 
1  lio  meets  are  tlio  Slio- 
•luly,  tlu'ir  givat  cln-f 
v,'.s  to  be  served  up  as  a 
,vliom  he    delif^'hted  to 
rs  the  Fhvthead  dopnta- 
ni,  awl  in  the  Octavo  of 
reach   the    great   canip, 
with  what  ear..est  joy! 
ntion!      "  TTf/Z/.W/Hms'/ffl, 
:he  high  chief,  "  has  r-- 
r  hearts  swell  with  joy." 
red-shins  assembled  hr- 
r  ni-ht  prayers.    By  tl-.c 
it  Mary's  was  comph^tcly 
and  other  tribes  ioYm'^\ 
wanderings  at  this  timo, 
,,,   as  known.     Even  tl.o 
(1  him  with  reverence  i\w\ 
He  visited  thirty-six  dil- 
ast  forty  thousand  souls, 
oimd  a  countryman,  Joli;> 
icnt,  an   ex-grenadier  d 
red  grenade  and  axe  for 
,lwelt  thirty  years  now  in 


IN  Nonxn  America. 


425 


■ative  of  ;i  year's  rcsid.'ncoam.m^' 
utains.    By  P.  J.  <!«  Smct.  of  tko 


pursuit  of  the  boar  and  beaver.  Ho  had  forgotten  his 
native  tongue  almost  completely,  remend)oring  only 
his  prayers  and  a  hymn  to  Saint  Mary  the  Virgin, 
which  his  mother  had  taught  him  when  a  child. 

We  do  not  notice  hero  the  thousand  objects  of  in- 
terest iti  this  missionary's  charming  letters  ;  nor  his 
perils  from  hunger,  exposure,  from  venomous  serp(aits, 
from  the  grizzly  bear  or  panther,  and  from  wilder, 
fiercer  mortals,  who  perpetually  shed  each  others' 
hlood  around  him.  He  found  something  good  in  the 
worst  of  them.  He  recounts,  for  instance,  the  insa- 
tiate blood-lust,  and  measureless,  ingenious  cruelty  of 
the  Kansas  to  their  prisoners  and  foes ;  yet  says  even 
of  them — "  However  cruel  they  may  be  to  their  foes, 
the  Kansas  are  no  strangers  to  the  tonderest  senti- 
ments of  piety,  friendship,  and  compassion.  They  are 
often  inconsolable  for  the  death  of  their  relations,  and 
leave  nothing  undone  to  give  proof  of  their  sorrow. 
Tlien  only  do  they  suffer  their  hair  to  grow — long  hair 
being  a  sign  of  h)ng  mourning.  The  prhicipal  chief 
apologized  for  the  length  of  his  hair,  informing  us  of 
what  we  could  have  divined  from  the  sadness  of  his 
countenance,  that  ho  had  lost  his  son.  I  wish  I  could 
represent  to  you  the  resjiect,  astonishment,  and  com- 
passion, expressed  on  the  countenances  of  three  others, 
when  they  visited  our  little  chapel  for  the  first  time. 
When  we  showed  them  an  '  Ecce  Homo'  and  a  statue 
of  our  Lady  of  the  Seven  Dolors,  and  the  interpreter 
explained  to  them  that  that  head,  crowned  with  thorns, 
and  that  countenance,  defiled  with  insults,  were  the 


426 


Devotion  to  the  I).  Y.  ^M.viiv 


\tf 


truo  iiml  riiiil  iin;i;^'(j  (jf  a  (Jlod  wlio  liud  died  t'oi  ilu' 
lovo  of  UH,  and  that  tlio  heart  tluy  saw  pirifcd  willi 
sovon  hWonlH  waH  tho  heart  of  his*  mother,  we  bclicid 
ail  aireetiiig  ilhistratioii  of  the  heautifiil  th(>n,i,dit  (if 
TortuUiaii,  that  the  soul  of  man  is  naturally  Christian." 
Ho  i.s  a^aiu  met  by  the  Flatheads  tho  next  year, 
1811,  near  Saint  jMary'H  llivei',  on  tlu;  Feast  of  Our 
Blessed  Lady's  glorious  Assumption.  Ho  had  to  listou 
to  a  hundrcHl  stories,  and  to  learn  with  joy  that  "  tin') 
had  prayed  daily  to  obtain  for  mo  a  happy  journey  lunl 
a  speedy  return.  Their  brethren  continued  in  llu! 
same  good  disposition  ;  almost  all,  oven  ehildren  iiiul 
old  men,  knew  by  heart  tho  prayers  which  I  had  tau^lil 
thi!m  the  i.recediiig  year.  Twice  (»n  (;vc;ry  week-ilay, 
and  three  times  on  each  Sunday,  the  assembled  trilio 
recited  prayers  in  common.  AVhenevor  tlioy  niovotl 
their  camp,  they  carried  with  them,  as  an  ark  ol  safety, 
tho  box  of  church  vestments  left  in  their  custody. 
Five  or  six  children,  whom  I  had  bapti/ed,  had  gone 
to  heaven  during  my  absence  :  th<j  v(!ry  day  after  my 
departure!,  a  young  warrior,  whom  I  had  baptized  tho 
day  previous,  ditid  in  consequence  of  a  wound  received 
from  tho  IJlackfeet  about  three  months  before.  Aiul 
another,  who  had  accompanied  me  as  far  as  the  forts 
of  tho  Crows,  and  as  yet  but  a  catechumen,  died  vi 
sickness  in  returning  to  tho  tribe;,  but  in  such  happy 
dispositions  that  his  motluu'  was  pcu'fectly  consoled  fi»r 
his  loss  by  tho  conviction  that  his  soul  was  in  heaven. 
A  girl,  about  twelve  years  of  ago,  seeing  herself  ou  tlio 
point  of  dying,  had  solicited  baptism  with  such  eai- 


lO    \vm\    (Vu«a    fol     tll«' 

cy  saw  i»irn'i'il  \\illi 
is  iiiotliev,  Nvo  iK'hclil 
beiiutU'al  ihou.^lit  of 
nalmully  Clivisliau." 
liciuls  tUo  iu>xt  y<''ii', 
oil  tlu^  Ft'siHt  oi:  Our 
ion.    Ho  luul  to  listen 
,1  Nvitli  joy  iliitt  "  tlu-y 
0  a  liiippy  .i«>"'nry  iiml 
fen    eontiiuu'tl   iu   llio 
all,  even  diildivn  luul 
(U-swhirli  Il>iiiltan-^lil 
CO  on  ovoiy  wook-iliiy, 
V,  tlio  assonil)lo(l  tvilto 
A'licni'ver   tlioy  niovod 
■in,  as  all  avk  of  safvty, 
loft  in   their   custody. 
Kul  bai.ti/(ia,  liinl  gouo 
tl„.  vovy  clivy  after  my 
oni  I  luul  baptized  tlio 
KH!  of  ;v  wcmnel  received 
|o  luontlis  before.     Aiul 
lue  as  far  as  the  forts 
a  catecliunien,  diod  ci 
ribo,  but  in  sncli  happy 
L  perfectly  consoled  for 
his  soul  N\  as  in  heaven, 
igo,  seeing  horself  ou  tlio 
baptism  with  such  eui- 


IN  NOUTH    AMF.IlTrA. 


427 


TU'sfuoHS  that  hIio  was  biipti/eil  by  Peter,  the  Troipiois, 
iiTid  received  the  iianu'  of  Mary.  After  liaviiij^'  suii;^  a 
liynm  in  a  sli'oni^er  voico  than  usual,  sho  died,  saying, 
'  Oil,  liow  bi'autiful !    I  see  I^Tary,  my  mother.'  " 

From  that  tinu',  the  jMis.sioii  of  Saint  jNFary's  ad- 
vances steadfastly  in  saiudity.  In  October,  tiio  good 
blacdv-robo  thus  expresses  his  joy  over  tho  souls  of  his 
red  children.' 

"Next  to  tho  Author  of  all  good  Ihings,  wo  returned 
tlianks  to  hor  whom  the  Church  ri'V(>res  as  the  ^[othor 
of  her  Divine  Spouse,  since  it  has  pleased  the  Divino 
goodness  to  send  us  the  greatest  cons<dation  on  several 
days  consecrated  to  her  lioiuu'.  On  the  feast  of  hor 
glorious  Assumption  w(>  met  tho  vanguard  of  our  dear 
neophytes.  On  tho  Sunday  ■within  tho  Octave,  wo,  for 
the  first  tinio  since  my  retui'u,  c(d(d)rated  the  Holy 
Mysteries  among  them.  On  the  lollowing  Sunday  our 
good  Indians  jdaced  themstdves  and  their  children  un- 
der tho  protect i<ni  of  tho  Innnaculato  Heart  of  ]Mary, 
of  which  wo  then  cidcd)rat(Hl  the  ft^ist.  This  act  of 
devotion  was  renewed  by  tho  great  chief  in  tho  namo 
of  his  whole  tribe,  on  tho  fi'ast  of  her  Holy  Name. 
On  tho  2J:th  of  September,  tho  feast  of  Our  Lady  of 
Mercy,  wo  arrived  at  tho  river  <  Ued  Bitter  Root,  on 
tho  banks  of  which  avo  have  chosen  tho  site  for  our 
principal  missionary  station.  On  thr  first  Sunday  of 
October,  feast  of  tho  Pvosary,  we  took  possession  of 
the  promised  land,  by  planting  a  cross  on  the  spot 

'  Sketclies,  p.  133. 


428 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


I 


wliich  WG  had  chosen  for  our  first  resitlenco.  Wliat 
motives  of  encouragemeut  does  not  the  Gospel  of  tho 
present  Sunday  add  to  all  those  mentioned  Lcfon;. 
To-day,  too,  we  celebrate  the  Sacred  Maternity  of 
Mary ;  and  what  may  we  not  expect  from  tho  Vii'giu 
Mother  who  brought  forth  her  Son  for  the  Salvation  of 
tho  world  ?" 

"  On  the  feast  of  her  Patronage,  we  shall  oiler  by 
her  mediation  to  her  Divine  Son,  twenty-five  young 
Indians,  who  are  to  be  bapti/ed  on  that  day.  So  many 
favors  liave  induced  us  unanimously  to  proclaim  Mary 
the  pi'otectress  of  our  mission,  and  to  give  her  beauti- 
ful Name  to  our  new  residence."  By  December,  a 
solid  wooden  chapel  is  erected,  wherein,  after  weeks  of 
instruction,  tho  fathers  rejoice  in  the  baptism  of  two 
hundred  and  two  adults.  Proiul  and  happy  weie  the 
Indians  when  they  saw  their  chapel  adorned.  For, 
"some  days  previously  the  Fathers  had  engaged  all 
who  were  Avilling,  to  make  mats  of  rushes  or  straw, 
.\11  the  women,  girls,  and  children  assembled  eagerly 
for  this  good  work,  so  that  they  had  enough  to  cover 
the  floor  and  ceiling,  and  hang  round  tho  walls.  These 
mats,  ornamented  with  festoons  of  green,  made  a 
pretty  drapery  around  tho  altar.  On  a  canopy  Mas 
inscribed  the  holy  name  of  Jesus.  Among  the  orna- 
ments they  placed  a  picture  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  over 
the  tabernacle." 

Then  back  to  the  instructicns;  and  in  the  joyous 
Christmas-tide  they  have  a  new  baptismal  fete,  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  Flatheads,  the  last  of  the  pagans, 


iPll 


IN  NOHTII  AjIEKICA. 


429 


lats  of  rushes  or  straw. 
kTren  assoiuLlecl  Ciigci'ly 

loy  had  enough  to  cover 
y  round  the  walls.  These 
oons  of  green,  made  a 
iltar.     On  a  canopy  was 

csus.     Among  the  oriia- 
.f  the  Blessed  Vh'gin  over 


with  tlireo  chiefs  at  their  head;  thirty  Nez-Peiccs, 
with  their  chief;  a  Eluckfoot  chief  and  his  family. 
Seven  hundred  adults  baptized  in  one  }'ear,  and  a 
little  army  of  children  !  Thus  he  sums  u[)  the  fruits  of 
the  year,  in  that  Mission  of  Saint  Mary's  in  the  Hocky 
Mountains  :  "  The  whole  Flathead  naticm  converted  ; 
four  hundred  Kalispels  baptized  ;  eighty  Nez-Perces, 
several  Coeurs  d'Alenes ;  many  Koetenays,  Llackfeet, 
Snakes,  and  Banacs — thsj  Sinpoils,  the  Chaudieres, 
who  open  their  arms  to  us,  and  eagerly  ask  f(jr  Fathers 
to  instruct  them  ;  the  earnest  demands  from  Fort  Van- 
couver on  the  i)art  of  the  governor,  and  of  the  Ilev. 
Mr.  Blanehet,  assuring  us  of  the  good  desires  aiid  dis- 
positions of  a  great  number  of  nations,  who  are  ready 
to  receive  the  gospel — in  a  word,  a  vast  country,  which 
only  awaits  the  arrivid  of  true  ministers  of  Gc^d,  to 
rally  round  the  standard  of  the  Cross.  Behold  the 
beaiitifid  bouquet.  Rev.  Father,  which  w(i  have  the 
happiness  of  presenting  you  at  the  close  of  1841." 

Next  year,  Father  do  Smet  crosses  the  mountains  on 
a  visit  to  Columbia  River,  a  dangtirous  passage,  so  sav- 
agely broken  up  by  rifts  and  chasms  is  that  vast  bar- 
]ier  known  as  the  Rocky  Moimtains.  "  On  one  occa- 
sion," he  says,  "  Ijefore  entering  the  foresh,  we  crossed 
a  high  mountain  by  a  wild  winding  path.  Its  sides  are 
covered  with  fine  cedars  and  pines,  which  are,  however, 
of  smaller  dimensions  than  those  in  the  forest.  Sev- 
eral times  whil'^  ascending  the  mountain  I  found  my- 
self on  parapets  of  rocks,  whence,  thanks  to  my  safe- 
footed  mvdo,  I  retired  in  saf-jty.     Ouce  I.  {liou^ht  my 


.A'^-^ 


430 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mahy 


w 


career  at  an  end.  I  had  wandered  from  nij'  conipau- 
ions,  and  following  tlio  path,  I  all  at  once  came  to  a 
rocky  projection  wliich  terminated  in  a  point  alxjut 
two  feet  wide  ;  before  me  was  a  perpendicular  descent 
of  three  feet ;  on  my  left  stood  a  rock  as  straight  as 
a  wall,  and  on  my  right  yawned  a  precipice  of  ahout 
a  thoiisand  feet.  Yon  can  conceive  that  my  situatiou 
was  any  thing  bvit  pleasant.  The  slightest  false  step 
would  have  pliMiged  the  mule  and  his  rider  into  the 
abj^ss  beneath.  To  descend  was  impossible,  as  on  one 
side  I  ^\•as  closed  in  by  the  rock,  and  suspended  over 
a  dreadful  chasm  on  the  other.  My  nmle  had  stopped 
at  the  commeucement  of  the  descent,  and  not  having 
an}'  time  to  lose,  I  recommended  myself  to  God,  and, 
as  a  last  expedient,  sunk  my  spurs  deeply  into  the  sides 
of  my  poor  beast ;  she  nuide  one  bold  leap,  and  safely 
landed  me  <m  another  parapet,  much  larger  than  that 
I  had  h'ft." 

Consolations  are  found  everywhere  b}'  the  d(>votnl 
servant  of  Mary,  because  the  presence  of  God  is  even- 
where,  and  "  iu  that  presence  only  is  tin;  fulness  of 
consolation." 

"  I  cannot  pass  over  in  silence  the  pleasant  meetinp; 
I  had  in  the  depth  of  the  forest.  I  discovercul  a  little 
hut  of  rushes,  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  Pvals- 
ing  my  voice  to  its  highest  pitch,  I  tried  to  make  its 
inhal)itants  hear  me,  but  received  no  answer.  I  felt 
an  irresistible  desire  to  vh  it  it,  and  accordingly  made 
my  interpreter  accompany  me.  AYe  found  it  oecupiotl 
by  a  poor  old  woman,  who  was  blind  and  very  ill.    I 


V.  Mahy 

ed  from  my  compan- 
l1  at  once  came  to  a 
bed  in  a  point  aLovit 
lerpendicular  descent 
a  rock  as  stvaiglit  as 
a  precipice  of  about 
ive  that  my  situatiou 
iie  slightest  false  step 
ind  his  rider  into  tlio 
i  impossible,  as  on  t)ne 
:,  and  suspended  over 
My  mule  had  stopped 
>scent,  and  not  haviii.u; 
d  myself  to  God,  and, 
p  deeply  into  tlie  sidts 
bold  leap,  and  safely 
nuch  larger  than  that 

•Avherc  by  the  devotid 

jsence  of  God  is  eveiy- 

ouly  is  the  fulness  ot 

:e  the  pleasant  unH'tii!-- 
I  discov(>red  a  little 
iks  of  the  river.  Pvais- 
teh,  I  tried  to  rnuhe  its 
,ed  no  answer.  I  iV'lt 
and  accordhigly  niadi 
We  found  it  occupied 
,  blind  and  very  ill.    I 


IN  North  America. 


1.11 


spoke  to  her  of  the  Great  Spirit,  of  the  most  esscutial 
dogmas  of  onr  faith,  and  of  baptism.     Tlie  example  of 
the  Apostle  St.  Philip  teaches  us  that  there  are  cases 
where  all  the  requisite  disjiositions  may  entirely  consist 
in  an  act  of  faith,  and  in  the  sincere  desire  to  enter 
heaven  by  the  right  path.     All  the  answers  of  the  poor 
old  woman  were  respectful,  and  breathing  the  love  of 
God.     '  Yes,'  she  woidd  say,  '  I  love  the  Great  Spirit 
with  my  whole  heart ;  all  my  life  He  has  bc(}n  very 
kind  to  nK\     Yes,  I  wish  to  bo  His  child,  I  want  to  bo 
PTis  forever.'     And  immediately  she  fell  on  her  knees, 
and  begged  me  to  give  her  baptism.     I  luimed  her 
;Mary,  and  placed  annmd  her  nc^ck  the  miraculous  medal 
of  tlie  Blessi'd  Virgin.     After  leaving  her,  I  overheard 
her  thanking  God  for  this  fortunate  adventure." 
Listen  now  to  the  legend  of  little  Paul.* 
"On  Cln'istmas  eve,  1811,  a  1\'W  hours  before  the 
midnight  Mass,  the  village  of  St.  INFary  was  deemed 
worthy  of   a  sp(>cial   mark  of    Heaven's    favor.     The 
Filessed  Virgin  appeared  to  a  littler  orphan  boy  named 
Paul,  in  the  hut  of  an  aged  and  truly  pious  woman. 
The  youth,  pioty,  and  sincerity  of  this  ohild,  joined  to 
the  nature  of  tlu;  fact  which  he  related,  forbade  us  to 
doubt  the  truth   of  his  statement.     The  hdlowing  is 
what  he  recounted  to  me  with  his  own  innocent  lips  : 
'Upon  entering  John's  Init,  whither  I  had   gone  to 
It^arn  my  prayers,  wdiieli  I  did  not  know,  I  saw  some 
oue  who  was  very  beautiful.     Her  fei  t  did  not  touch 


'  Skctclu'8,  ftc, }).  192,  et  seq. 


432 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  MxUiy 


the  earth,  her  garments  were  as  white  as  snow  ;  slio 
had  a  star  over  her  head,  a  ser^K'nt  under  her  feet,  and 
near  the  serpent  was  a  fruit  Avhieh  I  did  not  reel)glli^e. 
I  could  see  her  heart,  from  which  rays  of  hght  burst 
forth  and  shone  upon  me.  When  I  first  beheld  all 
this  I  wab  Tiightened,  but  afterwards  my  fear  loft  me, 
my  heart  was  warmed,  my  mind  clear ;  and  I  do  not 
know  how  it  happened,  but  all  at  once  I  knew  my 
praj'ers.'  (To  be  brief,  I  omit  several  circumstances.) 
He  ended  his  account  by  saying  that  several  times 
the  same  person  had  appeared  to  him  while  he  was 
sleeping,  and  that  once  she  had  told  him  she  was  pleased 
that  the  first  village  of  the  Flatheads  should  be  called 
Saint  Marv.  The  child  had  never  seen  or  heard  before 
any  thing  of  the  kind ;  he  did  not  even  know  if  the 
person  was  a  man  or  a  Avoman,  because  the  ap])eara]ice 
of  the  dress  which  she  wore  was  entirely  unknown  to 
him.  Several  persons  having  interrogated  the  child  on 
this  subject,  have  foimd  him  mivarying  in  his  !insA\ers. 
He  continues  by  his  conduct  to  be  the  angel  of  his 
tribe. 

"  Next  year,  1842,  we  performed  the  devotion  of  tlio 
month  of  Mary,  and  I  can  flatter  myself  that  the  ex- 
ercises were  attended  witli  as  much  piety  und  edliica- 
tion  as  in  the  most  devout  parishes  of  Euro})e.  At  Die 
end  of  the  month  a  statue  was  borne  in  triumph  to 
th"  ■■,.  ry  place  where  our  Blessed  Mother  designed  to 
h  nor  us  with  the  aforementioned  apparition.  Since 
t^ul  dji\  r.  sort  of  r  dgrimage  has  been  established 
ther ,-,  iiiA:  r  the  m;  um  of  '  Our  Lady  of  Prayer.'     Isouo 


V.  MxUiY 


m  North  America. 


433 


\  wLite  as  snow  ;  slioi 
tit  under  liev  feet,  aud 
.1  I  did  not  recognize. 
li  rays  of  light  hurst 
len  I  first  beheld  all 
ards  my  fear  left  me, 

clear  ;  and  I  do  not 
L  at  once  I  knew  my 
3veral  circumstances.) 
i<r  that  several  times 

to  him  while  he  was 
Id  him  she  was  pleased 
leads  should  be  called 
3r  seen  or  heard  before 
not  even  laiow  if  the 
ecause  the  appearance 
3  entirely  nnkno\\n  to 
;errogated  tlie  child  on 
arying  in  his  iinswers. 
o  be  the  angel  of  his 

ixl  the  devotion  of  the 
r  myself  that  the  ex- 
u(di  piety  and  ediiica- 
u!^  of  Europe.     At  tlie 

borni!  in  triumph  to 
1  ]Motlier  designed  lo 
led  apparition.     Since 

has  been  established 
,ady  of  Prayer.'     xN'oiio 


pass  the  pious  monument  without  stopi)ing  to  pray  on 
their  knees  ;  the  more  devout  come  regirhirly  twice  a 
clay  to  speak  to  their  Mother  and  her  di^iiie  Son,  and 
the  children  add  to  their  prayers  the  most  beautiful 
flowers  they  can  cull  in  the  prairies." 

A  glorious  Pentecost  followed,  with  renewal  of  the 
tribe's  self-consecration  to  the  Immaculate  Mother  of 
God ;  and  after  that  again,  "  the  feast  of  Cor})us 
Christi  was  solemnized  by  another  ceremony  no  less 
touching,  and  calculated  to  perpetuate  the  gratitude 
and  devotion  of  our  i)ious  Indians  towards  our  amia- 
ble Queen.  This  was  the  solemn  erection  of  a  statue 
to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  in  memory  of  her  apparition  to 
little  Paul,  The  following  is  a  brief  account  of  the 
ceremony.  From  the  entrance  of  our  chapel  to  the 
spot  where  little  Paul  received  such  a  special  favor, 
the  avenue  was  simjily  the  green  sward,  the  length  of 
which,  on  both  sides,  was  bordered  b}'  garlands,  hung 
in  festoons.  Triumphal  arches,  gracefully  arranged, 
arose  at  regular  distanc^es.  At  the  end  of  the  avenue, 
and  in  the  middle  of  a  kind  of  repository,  stood  the 
pedestal  which  was  destined  to  receive  the  statue. 
Tb'.'  hour  specified  having  struck,  tlio  ])roccssiou 
issued  from  the  chapel  in  this  order.  At  the  head  was 
borne  idoft  tlu;  banner  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  followed 
closely  by  little  Paul  carrying  the  statue  and  acconi- 
])anied  by  two  choristers,  who  profusely  strewed  the 
way  with  tlowei'S.  Then  came  the  two  Fathers,  one 
vested  in  a  co]-)e,  and  the  other  in  a  sur])lice.     Finally 

the  mai'cl:  wa«  closed  by  the  chiefs  and  all  the  mem- 
uu  ID 


:.■-■- _->tpmr: 


434 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


11 


'5^ 


bers  of  tlio  colony,  emulating  each  other  in  their  zoal 
to  pay  their  tribute  of  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  their 
Blessed  Mother.  "When  they  reached  the  spot,  one  of 
our  Fathers,  in  a  short  exhortation,  in  -wliich  he  id- 
niinded  them  of  the  signal  pr(vligy  and  assistance  of 
the  Queen  of  Heaven,  encourage  .  our  dear  neophytes 
to  sentiments  of  confidence  in  the  protection  of  Mary. 
After  this  add^-ess,  and  the  singing  of  the  Litany  of  tho 
Blessed  Virgin,  the  procession  returned  in  the  same 
order  to  the  churcli.  Oh  !  how  ardi'utly  we  desired  all 
the  friends  of  our  holy  religion  could  have  witnessed 
thv  devotion  and  recollection  of  these  new  children  of 
Mary !" 

See,  then  how  this  Blessed  Name  is  known,  even  as 
the  "holy  and  terrible  Name'"  of  God  is  known,  "from 
the  rising  of  the  sun  unto  the  going  down  of  tho 
same;""  liow  it  is  siuig  beneath  the  magnolias  of 
Floridian  wood  ..  and  praised  where  the  ice-bound  sea 
lies  silent  round  the  coasts  of  Labrador;  how  the  tall 
arches  of  eastern  cathedrals  re-echo  its  melody,  and 
the  soiind  of  its  SAveetness  floats  oil'  from  the  i)i'ak>  of 
the  hills  of  Oregon  far  over  the  Avide  blue  Pacilio.  lu 
this  journe}-  of  short  two  years.  Father  do  Smet,  with 
his  colleagues,  Fathers  Mengarini  and  rt)int,  havr  es- 
tablished a  chnreli  in  tlu^  wilderness.  They  have  de- 
stroyed lying,  thieving,  and  the  use  of  t)ie  scalpiiig- 
knife  in  several  tribes.  Tlu^y  have  restored  marriage 
to    its    siniplicity    and    indestructibility ;    they    have 


'  Sanctum  et  terribile  Nonicn  ejus. — Psalm  ex.         '  Maluclii,  iii. 


V.  Mary 


IN  North  America. 


435 


acli  other  in  tlioir  zoal 
,'ing  and  praise  to  their 
Bached  the  spot,  one  of 
tation,  in  which  ho  ro- 
(M.linry  and  assistauct)  of 
;c  .  our  dear  neophytes 
the  protection  of  Mary. 
;ing  of  the  Litany  of  tlio 
returned  in  the  sumo 
'  ardcMitly  we  desired  all 
in  couhl  have  witnessed 
)f  these  new  children  of 

Kainc  is  known,  even  as 
of  God  is  known,  "from 
;he  going  down  of  tlio 
leath  the  niagnohas  of 
vhere  the  ice-bound  sea 

Labradtn-;  how  11  le  tall 
re-echo  its  melody,  and 

:s  off  from  the  peak^  of 
10  wide  blue  racilie.     lu 

s,  Father  do  Smet,  with 
rini  anil  Point,  liave  es- 
derness.  Tliey  have  de- 
he  use  of  the  scalping- 

have  restorcul  marriage 
itructibility ;    they    have 


-Psalm  ex.         '  Maluclii,  ui. 


<;auglit  the  wild  hunter  to  love  agriculture,  and,  in 
some  degree,  the  mechanic  arts;  they  have  elevated 
tlie  woiiicn  from  mere  drudges  to  Christian  comjmn- 
jons; ;  they  have  baptized  one  thousand  six  hundred 
and  f(n"ty  soids. 

Soldier  and  trapper,  American  fur-trader  and  British 
governor,  no  less  than  the  poor  Indian,  bless  tlie  name 
and  work  of  the  Jesuit  missionary.  Governments 
seek  his  aid ;  commanders  of  armies  thank  God  for 
liis  presence ;  but  Parker  disapproves ;  Parker  is 
atliietcd;  Parker  will  be  an  obstacle  in  those  matters. 
"  Who  is  Parker  ?"  you  ask.  I  do  not  know.  Father 
(le  Smet  knows  or  knew.  It  would  seem  that  he  had 
written  a  book  ;  tliat  Parker  had  written  it,  since  lie 
])oasts  that,  in  1830,  on  his  way  homeward  from  these 
wilds,  he,  Parker,  *'  liroke  down  a  cross  jdauted  by 
some  Catholic  Irociuois  over  a  child's  grave,  not  wish- 
ing to  leave  in  that  country  an  emldem  of  idolatry!"' 

"  Poor  man !"  savs  the  Black-robe  Chief  of  Prayer 
"Were  he  to  return  to  tliese  mountaius,  he  w'ould  heai 
the  praises  of  the  holy  Name  of  Jesus  resounding 
among  them.  He  would  hear  Catholics  <dianting  the 
love  and  mercies  of  God  from  the  rivers,  lakes,  moun- 
tains, praiiies,  forests,  and  coasts  of  tlu^  Columl>ia. 
Ho  would  behold  the  Cross  planted  from  shore  to 
shore  for  tk.e  space  of  a  thousand  miles  ;  on  tlie  lofti- 
est height  of  the  Pointed-Heart  territory ;  on  the  tow- 
ering peaks  which  separate  the  waters  of  the  Missouri 

'  Skotclies  of  de  Smet,  p.  213. 


436 


Detotion  to  tite  B.  v.  Mat^y 


from  those  of  the  Cohimbia ;  on  the  pLains  of  Wiilla- 
mette,  Cowhtz,  find  Saint  Mary's.  Tlie  words  of  Him 
who  said  that  this  holy  sign  should  *  draAV  all  men  to 
Him,'  begin  to  be  verified  with  regard  to  the  poor 
strayed  sheep  of  this  vast  continent. 

"Were  he  who  destroyed  that  humble,  solitary 
cross  now  to  i-eturn,  he  would  find  the  image;  of  Jesus 
Christ  crucified,  worn  on  the  breasts  of  moi-e  tlian 
four  .'.lonmml  Indians,  and  their  smallest  child  woulil 
sav  to  him  :  '  Mr.  Parker,  wo  do  not  adore  the  Cross ; 
but  do  not  break  it,  because  it  reminds  us  of  Kim 
who  died  thereon  to  save  us.  As  for  us,  we  adore 
God  alone.' "  And  so  Father  de  Smet  leaves  Par- 
ker, and  the  above  is  his  only  appearance  in  this 
history.  Wo  do,  indeiul,  d(!sire  never  to  see  him 
anj'  1 '  ^re.  Nor  .sZ/r///'  we,  probably,  for  the  missionary 
has  started  back  for  Saint  Louis.  He  reached  that 
town  in  safety,  and  by  the  last  Snmlay  in  October, 
1842,  as  he  tells  us,  "  he  was  kneehng  at  the  foot  of 
Saint  IMary's  altar,  offering  up  thanksgiving  to  God  for 
the  signal  protection  He  liad  extended  to  His  poor  un- 
worthy servant." 


5.  V.  Mauy 


IN  North  America. 


437 


CHAPTER  XXT. 


The  Bi,\CK-ni>nK  in  Okk(io\— Ilnw  tiik  Black-koiik  T*ii:s  — IJocky  M^-.-n- 

TAINS    AilAIN      Till':    M.\U(;il    t)V  TBK    Ul.A(^KKF.ET  TO'ftl.MtDi  Till-.   S;,ii?sEOF 
OUK   LaOV — A.'iKNAKI    AM)    Fl.A'lHKAl)    TULCIl     HANDS. 

It  is  by  a  long  route  tliat  Father  t}o  Sji-aet  revisits 
liis  Indiana  in  18H.  Since  we  saw  liini  last,  lie  ba:4 
luvn  to  Europe  for  re-onforcomeiYls,  und  returns  in  tlio 
Jloniing  Star,  escorting  n">und  Cape  Horn,  nnd  up  the 
Pacilic  coast,  to  the  WnlilMnK^Hc  Mission  on  the  Colum- 
l)i;i,  "Sister  Renilda  aiinl  hor  companions,"  whose  ac- 
quaintance we  have  ahliread^"  made.'  Before  tnldng  linal 
leave  oi  those  good;  Sisters  of  Our  Ladv,  lot  us  give 
tlieir  academy  the  benefit  of  an  advertisement ;  and, 
for  the  convenieiK*e  of  any  of  our  rcad(>rs  wlio  may  de- 
sire to  send  thc^ir  daugliters  to  Wallamette,  for  educa- 
tion, let  us  copy  the  luicii  di>iiiiintliHl  for  ti  ipiurter'3 
tuition,  as  set  forth  in  the  Prospectus  of  the  Sisters : 
"Tuition  and  boai*d  per  quarter,  100  lbs.  Jlour,  25  lbs. 
pork  or  30  of  beef,  1  sack  of  potatoes,  4  lbs.  hog's  lard, 
3  gallons  peas,  3  dozen  eggs,  4  lbs.  candles,  1  lb.  tea, 
and  4  lbs.  of  rici\"'  Fv(nu  which  it  may  ho  seen  that 
the  Sisters  cannot  often  expect  their  claims  to  be  re- 
mitted bv  mail. 


'   Vide  this  work,  p.  2.'5G 

*  Missious  do  I'Ongon  :  par  lo  P6re  de  Snict,  p.  53. 


All 


438 


Dhvotion  to  tue  li.  V.  INFauy 


"It  wiiH  on  tlio  Feust  of  tlio  AHsuiiiptioa  of  oiir 
glorious  L;uly  that  wo  left  our  lioals  for  (lie  slioii!," 
Hiijs  Fiitli(>r  (!ii  Snu't.  That  is,  on  tli(!  ir>tli  of  August, 
IS  15.  Jlo  finds  that  sinco  tin*  Mission  of  U|»[i(r 
Ort'gou  was  foi  ndcd,  in  18o'.),  thrco  Ihousaiul  imUans 
liavo  boi'ii  bapt  /''d,  and  tluit  three,  thousand  nu)ro  arc 
to  hi)  ad(K'd  to  theso  1V(UU  otlior  Oregon  tribes  sinco 
1811.  Tlie  track  of  tho  BLvuk-robo  winds  through  ten 
d(>grees  of  hititud(!  and  sixteen  of  huigitude  ;  going  up 
to  Athabascra,  (ht;  ]ni(Ullo  one  of  tluit  ania/ing  chain  of 
inhind  seas  wliieh  unite  thc!  waters  of  Lakt^  Su[)erior 
with  those  of  tho  Arctic  Ocean  and  Jlehring's  Strait. 
A  your  after  liis  hmding,  wi;  find  the  weariless  num  at 
tho  station  of  St.  Mary's  Assumption,  tlio  Mission  of 
tho  Flatbows,  Arcs-a-jilal,'^. 

"  Sinco  uiy  arrival  anuuig  tlio  Indians,"  he  writes 
from  hero,  "  tho  feast  of  tho  glorious  Assumption  of 
tho  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  has  over  been  to  ni(!  a  day  of 
groat  consolati(m.  I  had  time  to  prepare  for  tlu;  cele- 
bration of  this  solemn  festival.  Thanks  to  tho  instruc- 
tions and  coi;nsols  of  a  bravo  Canadian,  Mr.  Borland, 
who  for  a  long  time  has  resided  among  them  in  tlio 
quality  of  trader,  I  found  tho  little  tribe  of  Ai'vu-d-plala 
dooilo,  and  in  the  best  disposition  to  ombraeo  the 
faith.  They  had  already  boon  instructed  in  the  prin- 
cipal mysteries  of  religion.  They  sang  hymns  in  the 
lu'onch  and  Indian  tongues.  They  number  about 
ninety  families.  I  celebrated  the  iirst  Mass  over 
offered  in  tlioir  land  ;  after  which  ten  adults,  already 
advanced  in  age,  and  ninety  children  received  baptism. 


.  V.  Mahy 


IN  NOIITII   AmI'IIICA. 


439 


o  AHSumiitioii  of  our 
boats  for  ll>«'  ^lioic," 
on  tilt!  inth  of  Aui^iist, 
^^    Mission    of    Upl'cr 
irco  tlionsaml  Jmliiins 
reo  tUovisaml  more  uro 
cr  Oivgoii  tribcH  siiu^o 
•oIh)  Nviiuls  llirou.^li  ten 
of  lougitmU-S  goiu<^  up 
f  that  iiiiia/iny;  cliain  of 
ater.s  of  J^ak(>  Suix-rior 
:i  atiil  Uehriiig's  Strait. 
id  tilt'  wearilt'ss  man  at 
.mptiou,  tlio  Mission  of 

tlio  Indians;'  lio  \viitt'« 
glorious  Assumption  of 
cv  l)i;on  to  mo  a  day  of 
to  propavc  for  ilio  cclo- 

Thanks  to  tlio  instnic- 
Cauadian,  Mr.  Borland, 
rd  among  thorn  in  tlio 

tic  tribe  of  Jrcs-d-jMs 
,sition   to   embrace   tlio 

instructed  in  the  priu- 

iiey  saug  hymns  in  the 
They  number  about 
the    lirst    Mass   ever 

ich  ten  adults,  already 
lildren  received  baptism. 


The  former  w(!re  very  attcniive  to  all  my  instructions. 
In  the  afternoon,  lli  ■  planting  of  the  Cross  vvus  as 
solemn  us  cireumsianties  would  permit.  There  was  ii 
grand  salulfs  of  ninety  guns,  luid  ai  ilie  foot  of  tho 
lowly  standard  of  tlu;  (iod-Saviour,  IIm;  ciitiii)  tribe 
made  a  tender  of  their  lieurts  to  II im,  with  tlu;  promise 
of  inviolable  attachment  to  all  the  dutiiis  (d'  true  chil- 
dren of  th(!  Prayiu';  availing  themselves  of  this  o(!ca- 
sion  to  renounce  the  rtunains  of  their  ancient  juggling 
and  sup(U\stiti<m.  The  Cross  was  elevated  on  the 
liordei'  I  a  lak(!,  and  the  station  r(;ceived  tin;  beautiful 
name  <jf  ihe  Assumption.  Under  the  auspices  of  ^Mary, 
our  good  ]\[other,  in  whose  honor  tluiy  have  for  many 
yeai'S  sung  hymns,  we  hope  that  religion  will  take  dnep 
root  and  flourish  amidst  this  tribt%  whei'o  union,  inno- 
cence, and  simplicity  reign  in  full  vigor."' 

In  Se{)tembt'r  ]ir.  solemnly  plants  the  Cross  among 
the  Ivoetenays,  and,  on  the  Feast  of  tlx;  Immacu- 
lato  Conception,  ba})tizes  one  hundred  and  five  of  th(;ir 
number,  giving  them  our  liady  of  that  Mystery  for 
Patroness  and  its  name  for  tlu;  name  of  tlu;  Station. 
On  the  Feast  of  the  Blessed  Virgin's  Nativity,  there 
are  a  planting  of  the  Cross  and  baptism  at  the  extreme 
sources  of  the  Colunil)ia.  So  on,  from  point  to  point, 
never  received  ill  by  the  savages,  but  sometimes  in- 
deed Avith  hypocritic  fondling;  sometimes  with  brutish 
iudiHerenee.   Ah,  the  field  in  which  lu;  had  to  live,  and 


'  MiBsions  do  I'On'gon  ot  Voyajjes  nux  MontagtiPS  Rorliousoa,  aux 
sources  de  la  Colotnbhi,  do  I'Athabut-ca  ot  du  Siiscatsliawiii  eu  lS4.'5-46 
Par  le  Pore  P.  J.  dc  Smet,  do  la  Sociotu  de  Jesus.    Gand,  1848,  p.  78. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


■f:!iM  12-5 
If  1^ 


us 


1^ 


M 
1.8 


1.25      1.4      1.6 

< 

6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


<-^ 


'^ 


«p 


440 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


sleep,  and  eat  among  the  nasty  Assiniboins!  What 
uncertainty  of  life  lie  felt  among  the  blood-stained, 
untamable  Blackfeet!  What  wearisome  days  and 
nights  of  journeying  over  that  enormous  territoi-y  he 
endured  that  he  miglii  win  souls  to  Christ! 

But  now  and  then  he  would  meet  with  a  few  poor 
Iroquois,  one  family,  or  may  be  only  an  individual ; 
wandering  tribeless  and  priestless,  but  ever  faithful 
now,  laj^  missionaries  among  their  pagan  congeners. 
Doing  this  penance,  as  it  were,  for  the  sanguinary  in- 
fidelity of  tlusir  ancestors.  By  and  by  he  gets  back  to 
Saint  Mary's,  to  his  good,  pious  Catholics,  the  Flat- 
heads,  the  Ear-rings,  and  tlie  Awl-hearts.  Of  them 
and  their  devotion  to  our  Blessed  Mother,  he  writes  as 
follows  to  a  benefactress  in  Europe  : 

"You  cannot  but  be  aware  that,  among  the  Indians, 
the  beads  are  recited  in  every  family,  so  that  I  am 
already  assured,  and  I  have  the  consolation  of  saying 
to  you,  that  many  thousand  recitations  of  the  chaplet 
have  already  been  offered  up  to  God  and  his  august 
Mother  for  you.     Those  good  Indians, — those  childrei: 
of  the  forest, — so  dear  to  my  heart,  will  continue  t( 
display  their  gratitude  till  I  tell  them  to  cease,  anr 
that  will  not  be  very  soon.     What  confidence  have 
not  in  the  prayers  of  those  Indians,  whose  merit  ii 
known  only  to  God !     Oh  !  if  it  be  true  that  the  praye 
of  him  who  possesses  the  innocence,  the  simplicity 
and  the  faith  of  a  child,  can  pierce  the  clouds,  is  all 
powe;  fill,  and  is  certainly  hoard,  then  be  assured  tha 
iu  these  new  missions,  in  which  the  finger  of  God  ha 


IN  NORTh  AjrERICA. 


441 


sty  Aflsiniboms!    "What 
long  the  blood-stained, 
c    wearisome    days    and 
it  enormous  territory  he 
lis  to  Christ! 
Id  meet  with  a  few  poor 
T  be  only  an  individual ; 
sstless,  but   ever  faithful 
;  their  pagan  congeners, 
re,  for  the  sanguinary  in- 
ly and  by  he  gets  back  to 
lious  Catholics,  the  Flat- 
lie  Awl-hearts.     Of  them 
ssed  Mother,  he  writes  as 
lurope : 
that,  among  the  Indians, 
cry  family,  so  that  I  am 
he  consolation  of  saying 
■ecitations  of  the  chaplct 
p  to  God  and  his  august 
1  Indians,— those  children 
iiy  heart,  will  continue  to 
tell  them  to  cease,  and 
What  confidence  have  I 
n  Indians,  whose  merit  is 
f  it  be  true  that  the  prayer 
innocence,  the  simplicity, 
L  pierce  the  clouds,  is  all- 
aid,  then  be  aHSured  that 
liich  the  finger  of  God  has 


been  so  visibly  manifested,  these  virtues  reign  pre- 
eminently ;  and  tliat  the  prayer  of  the  Indian  will  be 
heard  in  your  behalf!  How  happy  should  I  be,  my 
dear,  excellent  madam,  could  I  give  you  to  understand 
how  great,  how  sweet,  how  rapturous  is  their  devotion 
to  the  august  Mother  of  God !  The  name  of  Mary, 
which,  pronounced  in  tlie  Indian  language,  is  a  sweet 
and  endearing  sound,  delights  and  charms  tliem.  The 
hearts  of  these  good  children  of  the  forest  melt,  and 
seem  to  overflow,  when  they  sing  the  praises  of  her, 
whom  they,  as  well  as  we,  call  their  Mother.  Oh !  I 
feel  confident,  kr  owing,  as  I  do,  their  disposition,  that 
they  have  a  distinguished  place  in  the  heart  of  that 
Holy  Virgin ;  and  that,  through  the  intercession  of 
Mary,  invoked  by  so  many  fervent  souls,  you,  their 
benefactress,  will  obtain  from  God  whatever  you  ask." ' 
Before  this  letter  was  written,  July  25,  184G,  and 
since  1843,  this  venerable  man  had  crossed  the  great 
American  desert  which  stretches  from  the  frontier  of 
the  United  States  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  ;  had  overrun 
the  United  States  from  Saint  Louis  to  Baltimore  ;  from 
New  Orleans  to  New  York ;  had  seen  a  great  part  of 
Ireland  and  England,  all  Belgium,  Holland,  and  France, 
and  had  passed  through  Geneva  and  Leghorn  to  the 
presence  of  the  Supreme  Pontiff  in  eternal  Rome. 
Thence  over  the  Atlantic,  round  Cape  Horn,  up  the 
seven  thousand  miles  of  Pacific  coast  to  the  Columbia. 
Thence,  again,  to  wander  over  all  Oregon  ;  up  into 


*  Missions  de  I'Oregon,  p.  171. 
19* 


442 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  MaplY 


I  I 


New  Caloclonia  and  tlio  far  British  Northwest  posses- 
sions ;  planting];  crosses,  preaching  the  Gosiiel  of  tho 
Son  of  God,  founding  Missions,  baptizing  thousiiiuls 
of  pagans,  giving  glory  to  God  in  the  high(>st,  and 
honor  perpetual  to  Mary,  the  Mother  Virgin  Immacu- 
late. 

"  So  faithfully  have  my  dear  Indians  prayed  for  me," 
he  says  in  the  same  letter,  "  that,  whether  by  sea  or 
land,  I  have  not  suffered  one  moment's  illness ;  nor 
had  to  dc^plore  a  single  grievous  accident.  Glory  to 
God  for  so  special  a  protection  :  and  gratitude  to  tho 
good  Indians  who  ceased  not  night  or  day  to  invoko 
the  assistance  of  Heaven  through  the  intercession  of 
the  Holy  Virgin  for  her  poor  unwortliy  servant."  IIo 
dearly  loves  his  poor  Indians.  What  pastor  of  av- 
savage  men  will  say  this  ?  "  When  the  priest  gives 
the  white  robe  at  ba})tism  to  these  people,  and  says  iu 
the  words  of  the  Roman  ritual,'  '  Take  this  white  robo 
and  wear  it  spotless  before  tlie  judgment-seat  of  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  thou  nuiyest  inherit  eternal 
life,'  he  may  enjoy  the  moral  certitude  that  the  greater 
part  of  these  catechiimens  will  preserve  their  iniiocenco 
until  death."' 


'  RitiiaU  I{ot)in>i(im.  Baptivn.  Accipo  vestcm  candidiuii  quara 
immaculatam  pcrferas  ante  trn)unal  Domini  nostri  Jt'su  Ciiristi,  et 
habeas  vitani  ajteruam. 

*  Tlie  testimony  to  the  iirimitive  piety  and  simplicity  of  religions 
practice  among  tlie  Flutheads,  F/ar-rings,  and  Awl-hearts,  is  not  that 
of  an  entlmwiastic  and  imaginative  young  Missionary.  Father  de 
Smet  is  himself  a  very  grave  and  quiet  man  :  and  he  says  nothing  in 
this  way  of  praise  which  is  not  equalled,  if  not  surpassed,  by  the  Pro 


B.  V.  Mary 


IN  North  America. 


443 


fitisli  Nortlnvest  possos- 
liing  tlie  G()sp(;l  of  tho 
QS,  baptizing  thonsaiuls 
lod  in  tlio  higlu^st,  and 
Mother  Virgin  Inunacu- 

Indians  prayed  for  me," 
that,  Avhether  by  sea  or 
10  moment's  illness  ;  nor 
vous  accident.  Cdory  to 
n  :  and  gratitude  to  tho 
,  night  or  day  to  invoke 
'ouiih  the  intercession  of 
iinw(n'thy  servant."  He 
IS.     What  pastor  of  v.n- 

'  When  the  priest  gives 
these  people,  and  says  iu 
d,'  '  Take  this  wbito  rol)0 
10  judgment-seat  of  Our 
mayest  hdierit  eternal 
certitude  that  the  greater 

preserve  their  innocence 


\ 


ccipo   vostcm   cimdidiiiii  quam 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi,  et 


ii'ty  and  simplicity  of  n-ligious 
ings,  luul  Awl-hearts,  is  not  that 
young  Missionary.  Father  de 
t  man  :  and  he  saya  nothing  in 
ud,  if  not  surpassed,  by  the  Pro 


Let  Father  Point  of  tho  same  Mission  explain  his 
ideas  of  the  source  of  this  so  great  goodness.  He 
says  :  "  It  is  to  the  devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of 
Jesus  and  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary  that  the 
pastors  of  souls  owe  their  consolation ;  at  least,  it  is 
thence,  beyond  a  doubt,  that  we  derive  ours.  Every 
day  our  Indians  invoke  these  treasuries  of  goodness, 
which  alone  explains  the  wonders  which  we  relate.'" 
Yesterday  they — the  Cceurs  d'Alenes — worshipped  the 
beasts  of  the  forest,  the  i^rinciple  of  evil,  a  colored  rag, 
tlie  hoof  of  a  mountain  antelope.  To-day,  all  who  are 
old  enough  have  made  their  first  Communion ;  they 
are  guiding  cattle  and  sheep  and  swine  ;  they  are  cul- 
tivating the  fields  ;  their  squaws  have  become  Chris- 
tian women  ;  their  faith  and  their  practice  would 
shame  us  in  our  educated  self-conceit,  were  our  sense 
of  shame  nearly  so  delicate  as  theirs. 

"  If  ye  have  faith  even  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed, 
ye  shall  say  unto  this  sycamore-tree  :  Be  thou  removed 
hence  and  planted  in  the  middle  of  the  sea,  and  it 
shall  he  do7ie." '  Most  men  profess  to  believe  in 
Him  who  spoke  these  words,  and  explain  these  and 
all  his  other  Avords  to  mean  nothing  at  all.  This, 
I  am  told,  is  the  exercise  of  reason.     It  is  lacking  to 


tcstant  governors,  Indian  agents,  army  offlc(!ra,  and  traders  of  this 
country. — Vide  Exploring  Expedition  from  the  Mississiupi  River  to 
tho  Pacific  Ocean — Lieut.  Mullan,  U.  S.  A.,  j).  oOS  ;  Govi-rnor  Stevens' 
Report  to  the  President,  1854  ;  President's  Message  to  Congress,  1854 
-5 ;  Washington  Irvlng's  Bonneville,  pp.  3'J0-91  ;  Putnam,  vol. 
10,  &c. 
'  Do  Smet's  Oregon,  p.  183.  "  Saint  Luke's  Gospel,  xvii.  6. 


44i 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


the  barbarians  who  inhabit  tho  Oregon  village  wliich 
is  called  "  Heart  of  Jcshus."  "  Father,  my  little  giiTs 
(lying;  all  your  nieclichies  have  done  her  no  good; 
she  refuses  the  broast ;  she  is  dying."  Such  is  one 
Indian  father's  report  to  the  Black-robe.  "  Has  the 
child  a  medal  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  ?"  "  No, 
Father."  "  Take  this  one  then,  hang  it  round  liw 
neck,  and  do  thou  and  thy  wife  pray  the  prayer  tlu'r(!- 
on  written :  '  Holy  Mary,  conceived  without  sin,  jjiiiy 
for  us  who  implore  thine  aid.'  "  The  Indian  took  tho 
medal  and  departed,  and  when  the  ]ilack-rol)e  mt^t  liiin 
next  day,  ho  asked:  "How  is  your  little  cliild?" 
"  Oh,"  said  the  savage  simply,  "  she  is  well !"  AVliat 
wonder  that  every  year  tho  tribe  renews  its  act  of 
consecration  to  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  that  dear 
Mother ! 

But  prayer  in  our  days,  however  fervent  and  con- 
stant, will  not  win  the  white  man's  veneration.  L(  t 
us  see  if  tho  Black-robe  bo  good  for  aught  (^Iso.  It 
was  a  dangerous  time  going  down  the  upper  IMissouii; 
bloodshed  daily  :  bitter  wrongs  were  to  be  washed  red, 
by  savage  men  whose  sense  of  justice  was  very  uncivil- 
ized and  primitive.  As  for  us  Black-robes,  on  tho  20th 
of  October,  1847,  we  had  gone  ashore  for  the  niglit— 
"  oui"  fire  was  seen  by  a  band  of  Arikaras,  armed  to 
the  teeth.  They  crept  in  close  to  us  in  the  gloom, 
without  om-  having  perceived  any  trace  of  them. 
Their  chief  recognized  me  (de  Smot)  in  the  fitful  blaze 
of  the  fire,  by  the  Cross  which  hung  upon  my  broast, 
and  by  my  cassock.     He  flung  down  his  mace,  which 


;  B.  V.  Mauy 


IN  NouTii  Amehica. 


445 


was  quivering  in  his  gn[»(;  uh  lio  iiiaJc,  lofuly  Un-  a 
spring,  and  bounding  towards  tlio  fuo,  cauglit  lao  in 
bis  arnir.,  saying,  '  All,  Imt  thou  wort  near  (hjparting 
for  the  land  of  Spirits.  We  thought  tluie  fur  fiom 
horo  :  we  took  tlu-'e  for  a  f(je.'  "  Of  all  the  tribes  in 
this  part  of  the  desert,  the  whites  have  most  temu'  of 
the  bloody  Arikaras.  From  this  chief  and  from  uU  his 
men  lihick-robe  de  Snuit  received  a  solemn  [)romise, 
that  they  would  never  again  approach  a  party  of  white 
men  exc(ipt  with  the;  pi})e  of  peace  in  tluiir  hands. 
Now  all  who  know  Indians,  know,  that,  whether  for 
good  or  evil,  t/ir//  keep  Ihcir  proiniHcs. 

Look  now  at  this  st(jry  of  the  l>hick-rf)bes,  de  Smet 
and  lloiiken,  if  you  fancy  that  their  physical  and 
spiritual  way  li(!S  altogether  through  flowers.  Father 
Hoekeii,  rtunend)er,  is  returning  from  a  visit  to  Saint 
Louis  after  fifteen  years'  Indian  Mission.  They  arc  on 
board  a  steamer  struggling  up  the  Mississippi  to  Fort 
Union,  two  thousand  miles  north  of  Saint  Louis.  The 
summer  had  been  rainy  beyond  example,  the  Father  of 
Waters  was  in  flood,  covering  so  much  land  beyond  his 
banks  as  to  be  sometimes  Jiftecn  miles  wide.  There 
were  over  a  hundred  passengers  on  board,  eighty  em- 
ployees, for  instance,  of  the  American  Fur  Company. 
The  force  of  the  furious  current  rendered  their  prog- 
ress almost  impossible.  The  ^aius  were  ccmtinual. 
The  change  from  violent  heat  to  piercing  chill  damp 
occurred  more  than  once  every  day.  A  dozen  different 
diseases  broke  out :  strong  Father  de  Smet  succumbed 
at  last  to  a  low  bilious  typoid  fever;  and  finally,  Asiati" 


U6 


Pkvotion  to  ti[k  B.  v.  INFauy 


,m 


cli(»l»ini  (li'clui't'il  '\{»  tciribhi  jji-cscmic**  hiii(Hi<j;  tlic,  pas- 
8<iii;^<'i'H  1111(1  I'li^w.  Tli(>  l)(»it  liiul  bccoiiu^  a  lloiilin^' 
hospiliil.  On  ilui  loth  of  Jiiiio  a  chirk  ol'  tlui  Ooiiipjuiy 
was  H(M/,<'(1  with  tlio  (^loh^ra  ;  in  a,  I'nw  houis  lu;  was 
dead.  Otlicrs  lollowcul  liiiii  in  swit'L  suciicission.  J)n 
Snuit  hiy  i)()wcih'ss  in  his  cahin. 

But  ni^ht  and  day,  inch-fatij^'aljlc,  luM'oic,  l^'atlicr 
Hotikcn  atten(h  tl  tliu  sick,  and  said  tlio  last  prajc^rs 
over  the  (h'acL  I'ricst,  doctor,  and  nurse,  at  oiu'c^,  ho 
aided  and  waitiul  ou  llie  ill  in  tlieir  sulleiint^s,  [ucparetl 
their  i'(Mne(li(>s,  I'ubhed  IIkmu  with  cainplioi'atiMl  spirits, 
heard  their  confessions  ere  the}'  died,  went  «)n  sliore  to 
bless  the  <i;rave  scoo[)ed  out  ui)()U  the  bank  for  their 
remains,  and  interred  them  with  tin'  sacred  sohmniity 
of  tho  ritual.  But  his  life  of  priva,tions  amon^  tlu!  In- 
dians, his  labors  a.ul  ])erp(>tual  jouriu-ys  had  brokcMi  a 
once  iron  constitution.  This  tei-rible  hospital  duty 
was  di'stined  to  give  the  last  blow,  ]>y  and  by  it  aj)- 
p(>ared  that  iho  ilhu^ss  of  de  Snu't  »vas  chani^in;^  into 
the  chohira  ;  so  he  besouj^ht  his  conn"ad(!  to  hear  his 
confession  and  to  administer  the  last  niuttion.  But 
Hoeken,  who  had  that  day  assisted  tin-ee  dyiu}^  ])er- 
sons,  assured  Fathtu"  de  Smet  that  he  was  not  to  bo 
tho  fourth. 

Their  cabins,  or  state-rooms,  adjoined  each  other. 
Some  hours  afttu'  this  interview,  between  one  and  two 
at  night,  when  all  was  silent  but  tho  sighs  ami  groans 
of  tho  sick  and  djing,  the  prostrate  do  Smet  lioard 
Father  Hoekeu's  voice,  the  voice  as  of  one  iu  his 
aj^ouy,  calling  to  him  for  help.     Ho  rolled  from  his 


IN  Noinir  Ammkica. 


117 


juljoiucHl  each  otlun-. 

L(itweon  ono  iuul  two 
t  tlio  sighs  and  gvotins 
)sti'ato  do  Sniot  hoard 
)iuo  as  of  OHO  iu  his 
Ho  rollod  from  his 


lu^rtli  MS  licst  lio  inigld.,  dragged  liimscif  along  lliif 
floor  into  tlio  ('a])iti  of  his  IVimd,  and  I'onnd  liini  in  liis 
oxtrdiuity.  'I'jioro,  dying  liiniscH",  us  lie  Itdicvcd,  lut 
luiard  ilio  Missionary's  l.'ist  conlcssion,  adiiiinisltircil 
tilt!  niK'lion,  and  then  hri^athed  liis  own  siirii't  iido  tlio 
diilleil  <'ar  of  one,  already  ahnost  in  tli(!  piesence.  of  his 
(lod.  "  \'es,  there,"  he  says,  "  I  made  my  coid'essioii, 
crou(!lied,  \V(!eping,  hy  the  pillow  of  niy  hrotlier  in 
J(>stis  ('lirist,  of  my  fa 'difnl  friend,  of  my  only  (roin- 
])aiiion  in  the  wild(!rn(!ss.  T,  ill  and  almost  d}  iiig,  con- 
fessed to  liim  in  his  last  agony."' 

There,  Ik-  found  striingth  to  )'(!(!it(^  tin;  praj'ois  for 
the  agoni/ing ;  lo  pronounce  tlie  {'inal  a])sohdion,  and 
then,  <he  fair  soul  of  the  lilaclc-rola;  \V(!nt  forth  to  tlio 
hosoni  of  liis  lle(h!eiiier.  lf(!  had  prciaehed  the  Ciospol 
of  the  Son  of  (iod  to  thousands  of  [lagaiis  :  lio  liad 
l)lant(!d  many  crosses  in  those  vinhh'ssed  wilds;  In;  had 
founded  and  served  nniiiy  missicjiis  ;  ho  liad  l)apti/(;d 
inany  hiiiidi'eds  of  heatluiu,  and  now  (hed  hko  his 
niastei',  a  martyr  of,  diaiity,  tho  war-ciy  "  Josus, 
Mary!"  on  his  hps,  iu  tho  foro-front  of  battle  Avith  hia 
uniior  on. 

So  wlu^n  a  furious  plaguo  raged  among  tho  unfor- 
tunate Osagos  in  Upper  Missouri,  Father  J3ax  was, 
under  God,  their  comfort  and  support.  Two  thousand 
Indians  had  ho  baptized :  iK^irly  fiftecin  hundred  of 
them,  swept  off  by  tho  opiihauic,  ho  consoled  A\ith  tho 
last  Sacraments  of  the  Church.     Ilis  last  letter  de- 


'  Annalcs  de  la  Pr()j)a;i;ati<)n,  xxiv.  2o8-40. 


us 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


scrilx'il  tliL'ir  fervor.  "  Tiiey  begged  to  IkjIcI  the  Cross 
iu  their  hands  in  tlieir  hist  lumr,  and  iniph^red  that  the 
imago  (ff  the  Blessed  Virgin  might  bo  hehl  befuro 
them.  Begging  tlie  assistance  of  tlieir  good  Mother, 
they  turned  their  dying  eyes  upon  her  gentle  face  and 
kept  them  fixed  there  until  they  expired."  This 
Black-robo  also  was  physician,  eateehist,  and  priest. 
He  rose  at  all  hoxirs,  went  forth  in  all  weathers,  visitetl 
the  sick  and  dying,  baptized  the  children,  ctMivertctl 
the  hardened  at  the  eleventh  hour ;  breathed  the  foul 
miasm  of  the  plague,  sK'pt  in  his  tainted  garments,  ami 
arose  to  renew  his  trying  duties.  The  Indians  called 
him  "  The  Father  who  is  all  heart,"  and  it  was  with 
expressions  of  zealous  love  for  them  upon  his  lips 
that  he  resigned  his  life  into  the  hands  of  Him  who 
gave  it.' 

Thus  die  the  soldiers  of  the  Comjiany  of  Jesus :  the 
chivalry  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven.  Three  days  before 
his  death.  Father  de  Theux,  another  of  these  grand 
Black-robes,  when  his  i>hysician  told  him  that  he  could 
not  survive  the  morrow,  replied  gently  :  "  No,  Doctor, 
you  are  wrong,  I  shall  not  die  to-morrow,  I  shall  die  on 
Saturday.  Satiirday  is  my  day."  He  had  always  ex- 
pressed a  desire  to  die  on  some  day  consecrated  to  tlie 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  he  was  confident  that  his  desire 
would  be  fulfilled.  And  so,  Saturday  morning  found 
him  still  alive,  and  nuirmuring  at  intervals,  "  Jesus, 


'  Cinquanto  Nouvelles  Lettres  du  R.  P.  De  Smet.    PariB  et  Tournai, 
1858, 1'.  2-1.1 


B.  V.  Mary 


IN  North  America. 


449 


K'gged  to  holil  the  Cross 
ir,  uiul  iiaplovc'd  tlmt  the 
I  might   bo   hehl  hffoie 

0  of  their  good  Mother, 
poll  her  gentle  face  ami 

1  they  expired."  This 
n,  Ciitec'hist,  and  priest, 
h  in  all  weathers,  visitod 

the  children,  converted 
hour  :  breathed  the  foul 
lis  tainted  garments,  and 
ies.  The  Indians  called 
heart,"  and  it  was  witli 
for  them  upon  his  lips 
1  the  hands  of  Him  who 

Company  of  Jesus  :  the 
veil.  Three  days  before 
another  of  these  graiid 
in  told  him  that  he  could 
L'd  gently  :  "  No,  Doctor, 
to-morrow,  I  shall  die  on 
ly."  He  had  always  ex- 
10  day  consecrat(Hl  to  tlie 
onfident  that  his  desire 
Saturday  morning  found 
ug  at  intervals,  "  Jesus, 

.  P.  De  Srnet.    Parifl  et  Tournai, 


have  mere}' on  mo!  Mary,  pray  for  me! 'and  with 
these  words  on  his  lips,  he  died  on  that  day  of  the 
week  which  is  given  to  the  special  honor  of  Saint 
Mtiry.  One  of  his  last  acts  on  his  Mission  was  to  es- 
tablish tliG  Arch-confraternity  of  the  Immaculate 
Heart  of  Mary ;  au'l  he  it  was,  who,  when  consulted 
by  a  venerable  archbishop,  in  troubled  times,  as  to 
what  course  were  best  to  pursue  for  relief,  he  it  was 
who  made  answer :  "  Have  eariu'st  recourse  to  the 
Supreme  Pontiff,  and  obtain  his  permission  to  insert 
in  the  proper  place  in  Mass  and  Oilice  the  word  '  Iin- 
macidati','  before  the  word  '  Conception.'  " ' 

What  wonder  then  that,  with  such  men  in  pursuit  of 
their  souls,  we  find  even  the  fierce  Blackfeet  Sioux  be- 
ginning in  1855  to  yield.  That  year  Father  Point  could 
register  six  hundred  and  sixty-seven  baptisms,  and  the 
wild  blood-drinkers  began  to  look  with  wondering  ad- 
miration at  their  brave  old  enemies,  the  Flalheads. 
"  For  there,"  sa3'S  Father  Adrian  Hoeken,  brother  of 
him  just  commemorated,  "  they  all  admire  the  dcei)  and 
tender  devotion  of  the  Indians  for  Mary  ;  a  certain 
sign  that  the  roots  of  faith  have  struck  deep  into  their 
hearts.  Every  morning  and  evening  the  families  meet 
in  their  wigwams  to  recite  the  rosary  in  common  : 
every  day  they  implore  the  Blessed  Virgin  to  offer 
their  thanks  to  the  Great  Spirit,  that  He  hath  drawn 
them  out  from  the  old  night  of  their  paganism." 

Finally  from  his  last  journey,  in  1859,  made  as  chap- 


'  Cinquante  NouvoUes  Lettrcs,  p.  4)26 


BE 


450 


Drvotton  to  B.  V.  Mary 


l.iin  to  tlio  Uiiitt'il  StiitcH  army,  FutlM'r  do  Sinot  brings 
buck  from  rather  Point  tliin  story  of  a  JJlackfci't  bui.l(,'.' 
"  Wlicii  Father  Point  was  amon^  tlui  lilackfcot,  Im 
pri'scntcd  i-rosseH  to  stjvoral  chiefs  as  distinctivo  marks  ; 
bo  exiihiineil  to  them  their  signification,  exliortin^' 
them,  especially  when  in  (hmgor,  to  invoke  the  Son  of 
God,  whose  image  tliey  bore,  and  to  plao(!  in  Him  their 
entire  conli(U'nce.  Tiio  chief  wlio  related  these  details, 
was  one  of  a  band  of  thirty  Indians  who  had  gonc!  to 
war  against  the  tribe  of  the  Cvows.  The  latter  having 
tracked  their  enemies,  assend>led  in  haste  and  in  great 
nuinbijrs  to  light  and  exterminate  them.  Tliey  soon 
discovered  tlitun  barricaded  in  the  forest  and  pi-otijctcd 
by  a  collection  of  trees  and  branches,  and  snrronnded 
them,  raising  at  the  same  time  the  war-ciy.  Tiie  Black- 
feet,  on  perceiving  the  superior  nunduM's  of  their  op- 
ponents, who  wi'ro  about  to  p(-unce  upon  them  sud- 
denly, were  under  the  persuasion  that  they  wen^  all 
about  to  perish  at  tlmir  hands.  One  among  them  bore 
upon  his  breast  tlie  sign  of  salvation,  the  cross.  Ho 
theu  recollected  th(!  advice  of  Father  Point,  which  ho 
communicated  to  his  eomjjanions,  and  they  all  re- 
peated: 7'A/-s  is  our  oiiJij  cliance  of  .sdfvhj  !  Thej- then 
invoked  the  Son  of  God,  and  left  the  barricade;.  The 
bearer  of  the  cross  was  at  their  head  ;  he  puslKul  for- 
ward, and  tlu'y  all  followed  him.  The  Crows  met  theiii 
with  a  volley  of  balls  and  arrows  :  not  one  of  them 
was  seriously  wounded,  and  tlicy  all  escaped.     In  re- 


'  Anuals  of  tlio  Pii>ijayation  of  the  Faith.     Baltimoro,  18(50,  p.  232 


IN  NoiiTii  Amkiuoa. 


451 


lilting  tlio  ('ircninst!inc(\  thocliii^f  added  in  im  ('ii('V<j;('tio 
tono  :  *YoH,  tlio  pviyor  (rolii^iou)  of  tlic  Son  of  (iod  iw 
ftlonc  good  .'ind  cnicacioiis  ;  wo  iirn  all  dnsiroiis  of  rvn- 
doring  (mrHclvrs  woi-tliy  of  it,  and  of  riubracing  it.'  " 

80  hero  tlicn  lot  us  bid  our  Indian  npostli!  farewell, 
80  far  as  thin  l)ool;  is  eoiHiorned.  Little  nioro  than  a 
year  ago  m'o  enjoyed  his  society  for  a  morning,  and  re- 
ceived liis  Messing  ns  lie  start(>d  to  begin  a  new  joiu*- 
ncy  into  the  Aineiican  wilderness,  his  twen!y-seeo)id 
year  of  these  wild  Missions.  We  gave  him  then  at 
parting  the  Scripture  History  in  tins  Ahnalci  language, 
and  the  curious  Church  Calendars  prepared  for  those 
Indians  bv  their  Patriarch,  Ilev.  Eugiine  Yitroniile. 
And  so  by  this  little  book  tlui  Owenegunga,  the  ancient 
servants  of  3[ary,  stretch  out  their  hands  fioni  ^Nlaine 
and  from  Newfoundland  to  their  brethren  at  St.  Clary's 
of  till!  Flatheads  ;  or  at  the  village  of  Imnniculate  Con- 
f option  in  the  gorges  of  the  Itochy  Mountains. 

May  wo  again  have  the  j^leasure  of  seeing  his  ven- 
erable face  in  this  life,  strong  as  when  he  bade  adi"U 
to  Bishop  do  Ivam  in  Belgium,'  and  r(>ady  to  end  the 
narrative  of  his  new  adventure  as  ho  does  that  of  1800, 
in  these  words  :  "  My  greatest  source  of  consolation  is 
that  of  liaving  been,  in  tho  Imnds  of  ProviiU'nce,  the 
instrumei.L  of  eternal  salvation  to  nearly  nhie  himdred 


li.     Baltimore,  1800,  p.  233 


'  At  tlifir  It'uve-tiikingMonsiugniiur  implored  the  Black-robe  to  give 
him  some  little  tokcsn  of  remcmlirunco.  But  the  Missionary  had 
nothing.  So  taking  a  copper  soita  from  his  pocket,  ho  bent  it  double 
with  his  teeth,  and  gave  that  to  the  bishop,  who  preserves  it  relig 
iousiv. 


452 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mart 


poor  dying  children  whom  I  baptized.  Several  of  them 
seemed  only  to  be  waiting  for  this  happiness  to  fly  to 
their  God  and  praise  Him  forevermore. 

"  To  God  alone  be  all  the  glory  ;  and  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary,  humble  and  profound  gratitude  for  the 
protection  and  the  favors  received  during  this  my  last 
and  long  voyage.'" 


'  Annals  of  the  Propngntion  of  tlie  Faith.    Baltimore,  xxi.  234. 


, .  „  '.4' 


•>■     1. 


IN  North  America. 


453 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


Bkoken  Threads— Conclusion. 


Faith.    Baltimore,  xxi.  234. 


At  length  we  have  readied  tlie  last  chapter  of  our 
appointed  task,  and  have  only  to  pick  np  the  broken 
threads  of  our  subject,  and  then  to  bid  farewell  to  our 
readers.  A  history  of  the  devotion  to  Blessed  Mary 
is,  after  all,  but  a  chapter  of  Church  History.  Where 
tlie  Church  goes,  there  goes  the  devotion  ;  thoy  grow 
together,  they  stand  or  fall  together.  There  is  no  pos- 
sible separation  of  Marj'  and  tlie  Church.  The  Mother 
of  the  Bridegroom  is  the  Mother  of  tlie  Mystical  Bride. 
But  still  every  century  can  furnish  new  illustrations  ; 
every  generation  of  men  will  find  novel  expressions  of 
the  perpetual  idea,  and  the  accumulation  of  such  illus- 
trations and  expressions  will  constitute  each  age's  His- 
tory of  the  Devotion. 

For  instance,  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the 
Mother  of  God  is  an  old  and  endless  truth ;  but  its 
dogmatic  definition  by  the  glorious  Pontiff  who  now 
wears  the  signet  of  the  Fisherni'in,  is  a  part  of  the  his- 
tory of  this  century.  Note  now  the  example  of  this 
fact,  in  our  little  book  here.  On  pages  1 37  and  144 
you  have  descriptions  of  two  clmrches  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  in  North  America,  as  early  as  16G6 


454 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


and  1675 ;  on  page  47  yon  have  the  life  of  the  heroic 
discoverer  of  the  Northern  Mississippi,  a  ht'e  ^vholly 
given  up  to  the  worship  of  this  snhhnie  mystery  from 
early  childhood,  in  1654.  And  in  the  sketch  of  the 
01)latos  of  Mary  luiniacnlate,  of  the  Marists,  and 
other  new  orders,  3'ou  have  to-d.'iy's  manner  of  ex- 
pressing the  old  idea.  The  historic  truth  stanils  im- 
mutable, and  even  the  utterance  of  it  by  the  varying 
generations  is  less  remarkable  for  variety'  than  for  re- 
ligious fervor  and  consistenc3\ 

So,  then,  the  collation  of  such  facts  as  church  dedi- 
cations, founding  of  orders,  savings  of  men,  acts  of 
men  and  women,  directly  referring  themselves  to  ^"^firy, 
make  up,  with  the  known  devotion  of  all  Catholics, 
what  we  have  to  oPlcv  as  oxir  best  attempt  at  a  History 
of  the  Devotion  in  North  America.  But  there  is  some- 
thing else  to  be  added.  Not  merely  what  is  peculiar 
to  North  America  makes  it  historv,  but  that  also  which 
it  has  in  common  with  the  rest  of  the  Catholic  world. 
The  extreme  proportion  of  churches  which  seek  the 
benediction  of  Mary's  name,  is  more  remarkable  hj  its 
publicity,  but  not  by  its  popularity,  than  the  Sodali- 
ries,  Confraternities,  medal-wearing,  saying  of  Eosa- 
ries,  and  other  devout  forms  of  showing  love  for  the 
Mother  of  God.  We  have  already  alluded  to  the,  so 
far  as  we  know,  iniivcrmUfi/  among  all  classes  of  Catho- 
lics, of  carrying,  and  wo  presume  naturally  of  Nin/hig, 
the  beads.  Furthermore,  not  to  jndge,  but  sini})ly  to 
offer  an  individual  observation,  it  is  the  Amrrican  aud 
not  the  old  Catholic  emigrant  who  is  most  prone  to 


IN  NoBTH  America. 


nn 


this  devotion.  Catholics  oi  the  oldest  European  fideli- 
ties will  say  to  you,  when  you  speak  of  the  beads : 
"Oh,  I  can  read."  Americans  of  two  ccutiiries  of 
American-born,  educated  ancestors — of  names  world- 
revered  in  science  and  art — show  what  Protestants 
would  call  a  superstition  about  saying  tlieir  chaplet. 
Generals  and  admirals,  shipping  merchants  of  New 
York,  prominent  lawyers,  favorite  and  most  successful 
physicians,  are  known  to  this  writer  as  fervently  par- 
ticular about  that  simplest,  most  childlike,  and  sweet- 
est of  devotions  to  our  gentle  lady-Mother.  Of  course, 
in  these  remarks  we  do  not  speak  of  converts  to  the 
faith,  for  the  zeal  of  a  convert  is  generally  excessive. 

Another  point  is  the  observable  piety  during  the 
month  of  May,  the  month  of  Mary.  There  is  scarcely 
a  missionary  parish  so  small  as  not  to  celebrate  it. 
Every  cathedral,  college,  chapel,  parish,  church,  and 
convent  chapel  has  an  altar  especially  decorated  for 
those  thirty-one  days.  The  month  is  opened  and 
closed  by  especial  solemnities.  A  preacher  is  audible 
at  least  once  a  week ;  the  sunset  devotions  are  nearly 
invariable  through oiit  the  land,  and  the  large  number 
of  worshippers  is  surprising.  The  immense  majority 
of  Catholics  wear  the  scapular ;  you  will  with  difficulty 
tind  here  and  there  one  without  the  medal  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception. 

Then,  again,  many  thousands  belong  to  an  associa- 
tion, established  in  1858,  lately  approved  by  tlie  sov- 
ereign pontiff,  and  recommended  by  several  prelates, 
which  has  for  its  object  the  conversion  of  souls — an 


.1  'm 


456 


Devohon  to  the  B.  V.  Mary 


object  so  lioly,  that  the  Eternal  Son  of  God  became 
man,  and  remained  on  earth  thirty -three  years,  to  sock 
the  strayed  sheep  and  redeem  them  with  His  precious 
blood.  How  consoling  for  iis  to  be  able,  by  means  of 
jirayer  and  other  good  works,  to  co-operate  with  God 
in  the  salvation  of  souls,  the  most  divine,  as  St.  Denis 
calls  it,  of  all  employments.  St.  Chrysostom  assin-es 
us,  that  there  is  nothing  more  pleasing  to  God  tlian 
the  salvation  of  souls.  "  Though  your  riches  should 
be  ever  so  great,"  says  he,  "yet,  by  converting  one 
soul,  you  would  do  far  more  than  by  giving  all  you 
have  to  the  poor." 

Now,  to  co-operate  in  this  glorious  work,  prayer  is 
one  of  the  most  efficacious  means.  "  Pray  for  one  an- 
other that  you  may  be  saved ;  for  the  continual  prayer 
of  a  just  man  availeth  much." '  "  There  is  nothing 
more  powerful  than  a  man  wlp  prays,  because  such  a 
one  is  made  partaker  of  the  power  of  God." ' 

The  members  are  most  earnestly  recommended  to 
offer  up  frequently  their  good  works  for  the  end  of  the 
Association ;  and  also  for  the  conversion  of  some  of 
their  friends,  chiefly  for  those  already  favorably  dis- 
posed. It  is  much  to  be  desired  that  the  menibtiis 
prepare  themselves  for  the  reception  of  the  sacraments 
on  all  those  festivals  on  which  a  plenary  indulgence  is 
granted.  When  any  member  dies,  he  shall  be  reconi- 
mended  to  the  prayers  of  the  Association  in  the  place 
where  he  resided ;  and  every  member  there  residing 


St.  James,  v. 


^  St.  Chrysostom. 


3.  V.  Mary 


IN  North  Ajierica. 


<ir)7 


al  Son  of  God  became 
irty-three  years,  to  seek 
them  with  His  precious 
;o  be  able,  by  means  of 
to  co-operate  with  God 
lost  divine,  as  St.  Denis 
St.  Chrysostom  assures 
e  pleasing  to  God  than 
ugh  your  riches  should 
■yet,  by  converting  one 
)  than  by  giving  aU  you 

glorious  work,  prayev  is 

ians.     "  Pray  for  one  an- 

for  the  continual  prayer 

"■     "There  is  nothing 

\o  prays,  because  such  a 

Dwer  of  God." " 

,rnestly  recommended  to 
works  for  the  end  of  the 

e  conversion  of  some  of 

le  already  favorably  dis- 

sired  that  the  members 

eption  of  the  sacraments 

a  i>lcnary  indulgence  is 

dies,  he  shall  be  reconi- 

Association  in  the  place 

member  there  residing 


'  St.  Chrysostom. 


shall  say  three  times  the  "  Our  Father"  and  the  "  Hail 
Mary,"  for  the  repose  of  the  deceased.  All  priests, 
members  of  the  Association,  are  requested  to  say  two 
Masses  a  year,  one  for  the  deceased  members,  and  the 
other  for  the  conversion  of  America. 

Prayers  for  the  conversion  of  America. — First  prayer, 
with  indulgence :  "  Almighty  and  eternal  God,  who 
wisheth  to  save  all,  and  wilt  have  none  to  pevish,  have 
regard  to  those  souls  who  are  led  astray  by  the  deceits 
of  the  devil,  that  the  hearts  of  those  who  err,  rejecting 
all  errors,  may  be  converted,  and  return  to  the  Unity 
of  Thy  Truth,  through  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen." 

Second  jirayer. — Memorare  (300  days'  indulgence 
every  time,  if  said  with  contrite  heart) : 

"llemember,  Mary,  tenderest-hearted  Virgin,  how 
from  of  old  the  ear  hath  never  heard  that  he  who  ran 
to  thee  for  refuge,  implored  thy  help,  and  sought  thy 
prayers,  was  forsaken  of  God.  Yirgin  of  virgins, 
Mother,  emboldened  by  this  coniidenco,  I  fly  to  thee ; 
to  thee  I  come,  and  in  thy  presence,  I,  a  weeping  sin- 
ner stand.  Mother  of  the  Word  Incarnate,  oh,  cast 
not  away  my  prayer ;  but,  in  thy  pity,  hear  and  an- 
swer.    Amen." 

"  O  Mary,  Mother  of  Mercy,  Help  of  Christians, 
Refuge  of  Sinners,  lest  I  perish,  take  upon  thyself  tho 
care  of  my  salvation,  and  the  salvation  of  all  those  in 
whose  behalf  I  implore  thy  powerful  mediation,  in  or- 
der that  all  may  be  brought  to  the  One  True  Fold,  in 
which  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son,  wishes  us  all  to  live  and 

die.    Amen." 

80 


458 


Devotion  to  titf,  E.  V.  Mary 


"  O  l\rai'y,  concoivod  Avitliout  sin,  pray  for  the  con- 
vorsim  of  tliis  country. 

"  Qiicon  of  Ajjostlos,  confioivad  witliout  .sin,  pray  tlic 
Lord  of  tlio  liarvt'.st  tlnit  IIo  send  lid)orerH  into  Ills 
Harvest."  "  Our  Father,"  "  Hail  Mary,"  "  ( Jlory  he 
io  tlie  Father,"  etc. 

To  boconio  a  mend)cr  of  the  Association,  nolhiii'f 
more  is  required  than  to  have  tlie  name  re^nstcn'ed  in 
a  book  by  a  priiist  of  tlio  diocese  in  wliich  it  is  estab- 
lished, and  to  say  daily,  in  honor  of  tho  Iinniaeulat(! 
Conception  of  tho  Blessed  Viri^in  for  tho  conversiou 
of  America,  one  "  Hail  INIary,"  with  this  ejaculation  : 
**  O  IMary,  conceiv(Kl  without  sin,  pray  for  the  convci-- 
sion  of  this  countiy."  No  special  meetijig  is  requisito ; 
but  it  will  be  sufficient,  wluirever  tho  Association  is 
established,  that  the  ]n'a_yers  api)ointed  by  t)io  arch- 
bishop, or  bishop  of  the  diocese,  bo  said  by  the  pjistor, 
either  immediately  before  or  after  High  Mass,  vespers, 
or  any  public  service  on  Sundays.  It  is  most  ardinitly 
desired  that  once  every  month,  every  mtnnber  go  to 
conf(!Ssion  and  communion  for  the  conversion  of  Amer- 
ica. Should,  however,  any  member  receive  tho  Holy 
Sacraments  monthly,  in  compliance  Avith  the  regula- 
tions of  any  other  Society  or  Confraternity,  he  may  by 
such  reception  comply  with  this  rule,  by  adding  tlio 
intention  of  the  Association  to  the  intention  or  inten- 
tions ho  may  have  already  formed. 

A  plenary  indulgence  has  been  granted,  l.sY.  On  tho 
day  of  admission.  2(1.  On  tho  10th  of  May,  the  day 
on  which  the  Association  was  established,     iid.  Ouco 


IN  North  Ameiiica. 


459 


a  month,  to  tliosi;  who  confc.'SH  and  receive  Holy  Com- 
munion. Aili.  On  the  Nativity  of  our  Lojd,  the  Teust 
of  St.  Joseph  (IDtli  of  Miircli),  (jn  the  Feasts  of  tho 
l*uri(ieation,  Annunciation,  Assuniption,  Nativity,  and 
iuiniacuhite  Coneei)tion  of  tho  lilessed  Virgin.  (Jno 
lunidred  days'  indulgtaico  to  ineniLers  who  assist  at 
tlie  weekly  meetings,  providcnl  they  say  the  prayers 
appointed  by  the  arelihisliop,  or  hishop  of  tlie  dioeese. 
The  })rayers  of  the  dioeese  of  Cineinnati  are  tiireu 
"  Hail  Marys."  One  hundred  days'  indulgciiiee,  iii  tho 
archdiocese  of  Cincinnati  only,  are  granted  to  those 
who  bring  a  member  into  tho  Association  ;  and  a  hun- 
dred days  to  those  who  say  tho  ejaeulatory  prayer : 
"  O  Mary,  conceived  without  sin,  pray  for  the  conver- 
sion of  this  country."  The  pro^jagation  of  this  good 
work  is  most  earnestly  r(!Commentled  to  the  zeal  of 
every  one,  and  especially  to  those  charged  with  tho 
care  of  souls. 

Wo  do  not  know  positivcjly  but  that  the  discourage- 
ment of  writers  Avho  might  furnish  American  books  of 
dovotion,  may  be  from  the  zeal  for  her  honor  in  tho 
hearts  of  older  and  better  informed  Catholics.  It  may 
bo  from  a  si)irit  of  nationality  ;  it  maybe  from  the  wis- 
dom attaintnl  by  authority  ;  it  niay  be  from  charity, 
lost  tho  humility  of  tii(5  Christian  should  be  injured  by 
some  notice  of  tlie  writer  ;  but  the  consistent  discijur- 
agoment,  although  g(nierally  negative,  is  a  fact.  But 
for  all  that,  the  land  is  Mary's.  AVhy  shall  I  not  ad- 
vance thus  modestly  her  claim  to  it,  when  nations  have 
battled  and  are  battling  for  it  ? 


4G0 


Devotion  to  the  B.  V.  Mauy 


"Who  then  has  tho  trun  cliiim  to  tlio  ownorship  of 
North  Anioricji?  Tho  rcil  Iiuliiiii  stojjs  iioisclijsslv  for- 
ward and  says,  *'  It  is  I !  For  aj^'os  iiiunoiiiorial  iny 
fathers  iish(.>d  thoso  watiU'S,  or  struck  down  tlio  <j[aiiio 
in  thoso  yot  iindosocratijd  forests."  "  I  claim  tlic  liuid," 
sailh  tlic  Spaniard,  "I,  who  rcde(!nu'd  thoso  Southern 
pampas,  and  tirst  tauj^ht  '.ho  Culf  and  tho  hi<^oon  tlio 
Bounds  of  Christian  praiso."  "  It  is  mine,"  says  tlio 
fiory  GauL  "  Tlio  snow-wastos  of  Canada  Avcro  crim- 
soned with  French  blood  :  it  vas  a  Fi'(nich  swoiil 
wliich  tamed  tho  liorco  Iroipiois,  and  tribes  of  every 
ton<,aie,  the  roaminjj;  Alj^'oncpiin,  from  the  miglity 
ocean  to  tho  niysteriims  great  lal-es. ' 

"  The  land  is  niijie,"  says  tho  Enj^lish  Puritan  from 
Berks  or  Huntinj^don ;  or  tho  English  Cavalitu*  from 
Derbyshire,  Wnk,  and  Cund)erland.  The  Ilighlandcr, 
m  gutturals  deep  as  thoso  with  which  he  tunuMJ  away 
from  the  red,  red  field  of  C'ulloden,  demands  at  least 
the  mountains  of  tho  Carolinas  and  Georgia,  tho  cold 
coasts  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  part  of  tho  shores  oi  Saint 
Lawrence. 

But  wo  cannot  grant  to  any  one  of  these  the  fulness 
of  his  claim.  Wherever  they  are  found  as  agents  act- 
ing subserviently  to  tho  fulness  of  our  own  claim ; 
wherever  they  shall  seem  to  have  advanced  and  aided 
that,  we  will  give  them  tho  praise  of  worthy  servants. 

Beverenco  then  for  the  silent  Indian ;  reverence, 
deep  as  justice,  mute  as  himself,  fur  the  olden  lord  of 
this  land  !  Honor  to  tho  swarth  Iberian  who  planted 
the  yellow  standard  of   Castile  on  the  shores  of  tho 


3.  V.  Mary 


IN  NoiiTTi  America. 


461 


in  to  tlio  owiKU'sliip  of 
111  steps  noiscihissly  for- 
f  ii<^(is  iininoinoriiil  my 
struck  down  tlie  <^a\m 
^."  "  I  diiini  tlio  land," 
lcom(>(I  tliuHO  Soutlicvn 

Ulf    illltl    the   l!l[f()()ll  tlio 

"  It  is  luiiio,"  says  tlio 
5  of  Canada  Avcro  criiu- 
,  --.vaa  a  Fronc-li  sword 
>ia,  and  tribes  of  every 
nin,  from  the  miglity 
al:cs. ' 
e  Enj^llsh  Puritan  from 

En^lisli  Cavalitir  from 
land.     The  11  i^l  dander, 

Nvhieli  lie  turiuHl  awuy 

odon,  demands  at  least 
s  and  G  corona,  the  eold 

;  of  tlie  shores  oi  Saint 


Mexican  Gulf ;  honor  to  the  chivaliic  Frar.k  Avho 
swung  the  lilies  out  to  tho  icy  air  of  Canada  :  honor  to 
the  broa(l-ehest<jd  Briton,  fo"  ho  namcul  his  first  town 
Saint  Mary's :  lionor  to  tho  sinewy  son  of  tho  green 
old  Island  of  Eire :  honor  to  tho  patient  toiler  Avho 
came,  singing  harmonious  choruses,  from  tho  arrowy 
rush  of  tho  lihini! — but  glory  supremo  to  tho  Lord  of 
Hosts,  from  whom  all  blessings  are  I  For  whom  and 
for  Hiii  Mother,  avo  claim  as  theirs,  by  right  of  first  dis- 
covery and  seizure,  this  North  American  continent 
Glory  to  God,  tho  Eternal,  and  honor  perpetual  to  Im- 
maculate Mury. 


one  of  those  tho  fulness 
ire  found  as  agents  act- 
oss  of  our  own  claim ; 
ivo  advanced  and  aided 
aise  of  Avortliy  servants, 
cut  Indian;  reverenco, 
df,  lor  the  olden  lord  of 
rth  Iberian  who  planted 
lo  on  the  shores  of  the 


INDEX. 


Abpnnkl  Indian*,  1fi»-1S3. 

Ai'iidlii,  S  'Jtl^ ;  il«  strtirtliin  of,  24,  294 

AhnHintiirl,  Iliirnn  ihli'r.  |hT. 

Ai.lhn,  St..  IJi'lli!  at.  •Ml). 

Aliilisrim  Mi»li(tis,  I  IS. 

Al!.">ni|Mlii  IikIiiiiis.  I^(,  1H(t.  196. 

Allcilll'A  .Il.sillt  fllllliT,  8,  lOT. 

Alviiniilii.  f). 

Aiiu'i'lii.  till'  Iri'lliin  L'irl,  .178. 

AiiuvlM,  Oiir  I..H'l.v  (if.  01. 

Aiii.'1'lii',  Till',  I"'."). 

Arinr,  St,4o;  clinpt'l  of,  124;  devotion  to, 

■MX 
AiipJirUlori  of  Our  I.Bdy,  'i'il. 
Ari'^kimi,  Woisliiji  of,  reiioiiiicoil,  194. 
Arii'liui  ilioi  i"*i'.  !{;is. 
Arkiinsiis,  Miiri]iicll('  nt,  9.  tii 
A-c'ii(lii»(''.  Mnliiiwk  chief,  2U4. 
Aiwliilbolii  Indiii'is  HT'.', 
AsMH'iiiiioh   of   CiijMr.'n  nf   Mary  In   tlie 

World,  :tU;  cf  I'niy.r,  4.50. 
A-isiimption  MIm*  iiii,  4'1s 
Atlmbiisift  I.iikf  Mis«i(iii,  !!fi9. 
Auciislliic.  Sr ,  Klorlilii,  foiiiidLMl,  0. 
Awl-lieart  Iiidiiin^  413. 

nndin,  Ufv.  Ptcphon,  220,  288. 

liiiUliiiiiri',  Lnri.  1,")7. 

r.iiiicrofr,  'I'rIlMilo  from,  14,  25,  104. 

liiiiuiak  Indiiiiis.  I"9. 

IJsiimr  of  Our  I.ady.  Ml.  I.'*,  2CI. 

jiaiiMooklinrn.  Hittle  of.  3 Id. 

Hhpii.siii  of  Indiiiii.s,  1,')2,  15S,  1S7, 195,  etc. 

Ii^I■au';^  Ulsliop,  48. 

Biirilstott  II  {liocp.se,  22S. 

HiTro,  de  la.  124. 

HiivU'V,  r.i.ihop,  323. 

HcJkIs",  Til.'.  4(1.  {>B,  (W.  20,3,  oto. 

Hi'liiioiit.  Siilpii'lHti,  70.  92,  131. 

H.-in'dlL't  XI II.   Pope,  i:<2. 

ncneillct  XIV..  Pope,  l.')2. 

liJL'ot.  Kiillier  .Iiiiiif.-*.  107 

I!ii.'oi.  KnthiT  Vincent,  107, 169, 174. 

ItilUart.  Jiillc.  2.'')i. 

ISii'oii.  Mnrle,  139. 

lilftckfeet,  429. 

KluckfeelSiiMix,  424. 

HlHiictiet,  Archldsliop.  2."i6. 

BlIn-IiuurUuD,  Ylcuuiiobae,  258. 


HonllXce,  8t,  rtln.:B»e.  303. 

Itiiii  Seniiir-.  Notre  iJaiiio  Je,  1.12. 

lloHton  iliiie>'Si\  22S. 

Iloiiix'oovs.  MarirniTltP,  77,  81,  114,  129. 

Itoiiru'et,'  lli^liop,  ;)20. 

liraiidv  traders,  42. 

lirelieuf,  .IcMilt,  l''alli,'r.  ninrfyr,  07,  OS,  liK 

Hri-'sanl,  .lesiilt  Katlier,  ^,  0,">. 

llrutlii'is  of  St.  Joseph,  210;   of  the    lloR- 

pital.  124. 
liriiee,  Klim  P.ohen.  340. 
r.nilart  d.-  Slllerv.  10.'). 
Unmet,  Ohiste  I'Nilhcr,  877. 
llriiniier,  Katlier.  •.'S(t, 
l!niiu>er.  .Mailame,  231. 
linile.  l!i^ho|>,  272. 
ISufalo,  Canon  <li,  2S0. 

rallfornia  Mission!.,  140, 163;  Indians,  161. 

Camlion,  1.54. 

Cancel.  KatliiT,  0,  1-3. 

Carinul,  Mount,  monks  of,  153;    nuns  of, 

220. 
CarniM.  Arclihislmp,  220. 
Cati'dilsm.  Iniliaii.  43. 
Catheriri.-'rewihkoiMla.  190.  199. 
Cat  Islanil.  once  I'alled  Si.  Saviour's,  3. 
Cniivin,  I'"aiher.  :!2I. 

Clinti'iiu'l,  .lesnlt  I'utlier,  tleath  olj  6.5,  69. 
Chaiiiplain,  .'!(! 
CiiarJioniiel,  IJi.sJiop,  34M. 
Cliarlty,  SisleiH  or(i'/'/«  Sisters). 
I'hnries,  St.,  Mission.  01. 
I'liarlivoix.  Katli.'r  d.'.  Ill 
Chartres,  Notre  Dame  .t.(.  I  OS.  212.213,  210. 
Chamiieday,  Paul  de  (rh//'  .Malsonneiivel. 
CliBiimoii.p't,  Jesuit.  Futlier.  T9,   100,    12s. 

193.  20.5. 
Cherokee  Indian  Mi.sslon.  7,  149. 
Che.-ap.'ake  Hay.  St.  .Mary's,  S,  157. 
Cheverii-,  Cariiiiial.  310. 
Chi'Viiioi,  Father.  :'.0ll. 
Cliil'iren  taiiLrht  hy  nuns,  264,  etc. 
Chinook  Indians.  203. 
Chippewa  Inili.ins.  412. 
Clilroiise,  Ohlati-  l^'ather.  307. 
CholeiUT.  Jesuit.  2(12. 
Cholera  III  Louisiana.  303;    In  Montreal, 

tt26;  uD  tbu  Missouri,  440. 


iCA 


INDEX. 


Clewliiniitl  (lloposM,  2M,  270,  2.3T. 

('lunn,  'I  lilt  |MMir,  JJii. 

<'l)'Vi'luiiil  (IliM'cno.  :iii|. 

('<i'iii--<i'A.uh>'  lii'll  iii^  l'2!l,  4-tO. 

«;i>liitft.  Kiitlior,  Jl'J. 

(liiliiiiiMa  Ulvcr  Mi^'ilxn,  1\,  (>ti<. 

Coliiiiibus,  Cliii9iii|iliui',  i,  2;  IiIh  micci'it- 

enrh,  f>. 
CiiiH'i  I'liciii  iMiiiiai'iiluti,  D,  4U,  t>'6,  [»i,  UlH, 

Wi.  m.  :iii7,  liii. 

<'i.iiriiii('riiiiu'.i.  ijr,  '.'--ii,  !iit. 

l.'oiiui'i'|.'iil|iiii  III  Our  Lilly,  Tit,  bl,  lit,  U'^T. 

V |iir,-.l>  III'  Mary  '.".J. 

Ciiiiii'i  riiiiiiii  lu  ilimsuil  Virgin  Mury,  172, 

•JT:..  liiil.  :i;tr, 
Ciinvi'ilN,  Kurly  liidiuii,  07. 
('iirniiailii,  It, 

l.'iill'  M.  l,;illllliTt    (!liM|irl  ul  Ml'.iy  lit,   M", 

Ciiiiiii'il  III'  lliiliiiiiiiic,  '.'!!. 

Crifk  liKJiuii  .Mi.—iuii,  7.  I  IS 

CrosK,  'I'lic,  ilnllnliliiKt  111,  ',^77 ;  riniii  llnli- 
iiiirkliiirn,  :!l(l;  I).  SiiutV  lil'r  mimiI  liy, 
III;  tlir  Kiuiiilnril  ul  Uki  lHucklvil,  UUi  ; 
|iliiiiliiiK  lit',  'I'I7. 

(.Ir.iH  liiiliiiiiH,  -ll'.'. 

I'rdwiiiiijf  ul'  iiiciuri'H,  yaj. 

CiiiiiiiiiiivlIU',  270. 

Diililon,  JeMilt  Kathor,  8.  107. 

l>U((ilali  liiillitliH  (rii/r  .Mciiix). 

Daiilrl,  Kallicr,  .luMill  .Muilyr,  OJ. 

|)avi(l,  l>i»liii|i,  .'Jil. 

Uoviiiliin  to  lJli'Ssi.(l  Vli(,'lii,  DIlTiTcnco 
bi'tuci'ii  lMirii|ii'Hii  mill  .Xnii'iuiin,  17; 
Miiiidi'i's  iiliiiiu  It,  I'll;  iiliKlai'li.t  l<i,  lirii', 
211;  Klylu  (It.  Iii'if.  22;  ln'miinilii'  nti  2:!; 
Mariiuittin,  ,')>;  1)1  i'i'>,  7'.; ;  iit  tiiu  .\bi'ii- 
aki-.  lt;s;  lit'  till'  I'rMiiini's,  ;iiM;  at  mir 
Laily  III'  tile  I.iki',  2.iV;  in  Oii|{iiii,  24, 
caiihu  iif  rujiid  8|ireiid  xtt,  4-1^ 

Oieliiiiiary.  Iiiilnili,  i-i. 

J)iiiiiiiil>'aiiH,  2i'i. 

Drinlli'iti".  .IrMilt  KnlhiT,  100. 

l)uliiij>,  lii>liii|i,  22ii,  272 

Diiliiiiir::,  lti>hii|i,  2'2i),  2117. 

DiirliMi.  OMali'  I'alhi  r,  iisZ. 

Dweiigur,  Kov.  J.,  2sJ. 

Kiir-riii»;  Indians,  441),  442. 

Iuirllii|iiiiki'  in  Canada,  12. 

Kinniuilein   Hiu'  Lady  iil',  2a2. 

Kllldt,  K.'V.  Mr.,  ■^;>. 

Kiiiiitruliiin,    i'l'L-nuli,    26;    QiTiiian,    27; 

]ri»li,  20. 
Knuli.-li,  tlii'ir  unkiiidnoBB,  20;  tiivubiun  ul' 

Caiiaila,  l;lii. 
Krif  Indians,  10ft,  105. 

Kiirraiid,  Oldatc  Father,  308. 
Kay. .lie,  Katlnr,  420. 
IVni'liin,  Kiitnor,  70, 
J'eiiwii  k.  Ilisliii|i,  .S!)l), 
Kever,  Yi-iluw,  Mi. 
Flic  ill  cunvi'iils  Mi), 
l-'liiL'i'l,  l'.i>liiiii,  22n,  273. 
Flatbow  Iiidiaii.s.  4';S. 
Flalliiimi  Indian^,  42^1,  4211. 
Flurida   tjaplizud    in   lil.xid,  C;   origin   of 
uaiiie,  lii;  Mi.isiuiis  in,  146. 


Kiircl^rn  Ml.'<«luns,  rrli>iiU  of,  HO. 

Kiiiiiaiilt,  iiiMil vr,  1 12. 
FiiiirniT,  llli  »-'ii|  I'vliT,  20!). 
Fiiinri-ian  Si-tiTu,  2i'H 
I'laiici^ilc  Hali'H,  Si,  .Mlnniiin,  107. 
Kri'iiiliil,  .liMiil  Faili'i-,  4lu. 
Fffiicli  lidiui-  liir   .\Iiiiy,  '.'."i;  Krfiirh  ziiil, 
20;  Ki't'Mcli  t'liiluruliuii  to  Anirrnii,  'Jil. 

Oiiooii,  FiitlnT,  Hill). 

Oalli/.lii,  rriiiiT. '.".>!);  I'rliici'xi*,  iiWI. 

Oalinii'lii',  Mal'i|iii.<  ilc,  i  ,'l. 

(iann.'akii'iia,  (  iiilii'rini',  l',>,'i. 

(ianiiiiiiiikiiii,  .'Mt'iilii'ii  li',  (  lilc't,  IU,'j 

<iiirai  iiiiili',  Cliirt'.  l',i,\  2'i|. 

liuiiiiiT,  .li'^iili  l''.illii'r.  III.''  dcaili,  01,  U'J, 

l)fi.r.;c.  .Miiliicr  Mar(,'iri'l,  2i0. 

('///.    Miliri  mill  (iiir/,  :{'.',i. 

Oiiiiruii,  Olilaio  Kallicr,  4ni!. 

(iiiniiiiiiali'iia,  Fraiirr.',  imi. 

(iiMipil,  la'iii'.  liiiMin-  and  duatli,  fib,  lb7. 

(irui'i'.  Our  Lady  ul',  M2  I. 

(iraiidin,  Oli.aU'  Kailnr,  .'1711. 

liiavliT,  .IrMiit  Kalliur,  talpur.H,  lilD,  Ul. 

Uuudalu|ii',  Our  Lady  ul',  1,>I,  lud. 

Ill  liridrati  oinlL'rant",  •Vi',l, 
llirliuiiKV.,  d',  Olilatt'  l•l.^llu|l,  37&. 
IlliUValll  I'.'i  Wilriilni',   |MS. 

lli^dilaiidiT.s  ill  .\nii'iiua,  t!d«. 
Ilii.krii,  .li'Miit  Fallirr,  death,  4-lfli 
lluly  Kainlly,  127;  d.  vulioli  to,  2u7, 
llu'<|iilal  liriillii'i>,  121. 
Ilu>|iit  il  ul' .Miiry'.s  llcl|..  2'», 
llu.s|,il,il  ,SjM.r.H,  CO,  7&,  7U,  128,  288. 
Iliili'l  Dun,  I2>. 
Iluu,^t'  lit  rriivldi'iici',  12tl,  lli'il. 
lIiiiLton's  lliiy  .\li-.Muii.s  (rii/r  Oldalc),  l,'i, 
lliirun  liiiluiiiH,  luij;  cuiivi'i.ilun,  iu;i;  tiivir 
L'jri'ttu,  luO. 

Illiiiuiii  Indlan-4,  ti\. 

liiiiiiiiinilaii.1  I'uiiccptlon.  !•,  41»,  ,'i.').  ,')S,  liN, 

2ti;),   217,   :iu;,   41(1,   4'):i,    i:!!),   .Ifi;!;   llrst 

olilirrli  of,  141;  scniiid  cliurcll  ul',  l,M». 
Iiii;annuiun.  Muilicr  .Mary  ul'tlu',  o'2,  ;i3, 
liidnin    C'alliulieH    duslruoid,   8,    I'^S,   1&2, 

102. 
Indian  convcrt.i,  .M,  «7,  194,  2n.'). 
Indian  Marii.'s,  171;  inis.-lunarlcs,  47,  etc.; 

iSisiiTs,  1)7. 


to    IJli'C.ied    Virgin, 


.',-)r>; 


Indian     hymn 
pray.r.  ■;;.l. 

Iiiiliaii  iMix^iun.s  iiimins:  Ahi'iuikis.  10fi-lS:i; 
Alu'uiuiiiins,  Iti.'i ;  As~iiiiliuiii>,  :ii2;  Awl- 
IwiiTlK,  42'J,  410;  llannaks.  4211;  Hiiick- 
fi'it,  42!»:  (.'aliiuridaii-.  1  ,'•:),  1  ,'i I ;  Cliir- 
okrcs,  7;  Uninouk>,  2ti:i ;  (;iii|i|iiwiw, 
107;  Crows,4l2;  Darulahn  (r*'/cSiuii.\); 
Kar-riiii;-!.  I4u,  4i-.i;  F  urhiiiiiis,  li,  1:1, 
148;  Flalljuw.s,  4:)S ;  Fiailn-iids  (vi'l« 
IK'  Snit't  and  ulnuti');  lliirun.s,  01.  07, 
ill.'!;  liilniils,  .M;  Iroiiuujs,  Isl-'JOl; 
Kallspfis,  4'.'!»;  Khiishs.  42.");  Kitskatkiiis, 
li'^;  Kucli'iiays.  4211.  l;!lt;  LuuUiaim,  ll',i; 
Mlamis,  .')4;  .Mis.soniis,  I,''):!;  Micinacs.  01, 
l.'il  ;  .Muliawks,  li54,  ilc. ;  Muni:i(;niii», 
111,'),  ;!7o,  :W2;  Natidioz,  7,  112;  Niw 
Mo.Mcaus,  b,  etc;  New  Vork,  1S4-21I4; 


Index. 


405 


gn  Ml^^liiiifi,  PrlpiiU  nf,  ItO. 

mil,  iiiiii'i  \  r,  I  I'J. 

nir.  IIU»-'.cl  I'll.T,  'JUil. 

■l-l'llll   SI  -ll'lK,   'i>S 

■\^lW  tiilli'H,  Sl,  MInhioll,  107. 
lilt,  .li'Miil   l''ail|.'l',  llM. 
-Ii  l.iliiir  liir   Miiiy,  'J."i ;  Knncli  /.i  nl, 
KniK  li  criiluritliiiii  tn  Aiinruii, '.'ll, 

II,  KiilliiT,  !l(in. 

clii.  I'lliii...  •.'■.';!;  PrlPK'i'Xs,  ;llil. 
u'lit',  Miir(|iil'<  cl(<,  I  !l, 

'llkll'llll,  (    IlllllTilll'.    I'.in. 

nliiikiMI,  M)'|illi'li  tc,  (  lllt'f,  I'Jo 

iiiiiic.  (iiiri;  111.'),  '.'.ll, 

ii'i',  .li'Miii  I'.itliir,  lii»  (Iciiili,  01,  (iV, 
:c.  Mdlhir  \Iiir^' ird.  'JiO. 

M'llt'l   inllt    ii'irl^  '.V'\^, 

nil,  OliliiU'  Kiillicr,  Iim;. 
iiii;ili'liii,  I''miii('i'%  IIMi. 

III,  Ui'iii'.  tut.iirr  mill  ileutli,  *;5,  lb7. 
•.  Our  I.Mily  m|;  :I'.'1. 

iliM,  t)l)>itli'  Kiiiliir,  'ii'l*. 

Ur.  .li'Miit  KmIIiui'.  laliorii,  IH'J,  111. 

uliilii',  Our  I.itily  of,  U'll,  li>li. 

Iilciin  ciiilu'riiiit^,  M.'l',i. 

(illu/.,  (I',  OlilllU'  lilnlliip,  3T0, 
•ulll  i'>  Wrlcdllli',    [lis. 
Iiinilfr.i  III  AiMi'ilcii,  ;U«. 
I'll,  .li'Miit  Kiillii'i',  ilialli,  4-1(1 

I'liiiilly,  rJ7;  ill  voiluii  tu, 'i^u7, 
llitl  liriillii'i>,  I'.'l. 
It'll  1(1'  MiiiV''  lli'll',  ii''\ 
Ital  .SjMi  r.-;  till,  7i),  7l»,  I'JS,  '^SS. 

Dim,  !■-'>. 
u  1)1  rriiviili'iii:i',  l-.'O,  ;',ril. 
Dii'd  liny  .Mi.vMoii.i  (liile  Olilalo),  If). 
II  liiiliaiiM,  llKi;  cuUVfraiuti,  luU;  tlieir 

fill),  lUtJ. 

lit  Iiiiliuiii,  M. 

iinilaii..  l'i)iii'i'[illon, !»,  IH.  ,'>:!.  .'iS,  in* 
•217,   :iiii,    11(1,   4:i.i,    i:!!*,   -Ifi:);  llrst 
I'll  of,   I4t;  stt'i'Diiil  oliiirch  nl',  l.'iD, 
iiitlDii.  MiiiliiT  .Mary  dI'  tin',  .IJ,  liii. 
II    CutliDlle.t    dcBli'i),! '1(1,   8,    I'S,   IS'J, 

11  f(iiiv4Tt.>t,  M,  1)7,  11>4,  'Jii.V 

.Miirii'S,  171;  iiila>li)iinrli'8,  47,  etc.; 

rs,  1)7. 
II     liviim    to    IJlfCat'il    Virgin,   205; 

r.  :'i,M. 
1  Mi-;«li)iia  ii!iiun2  AbeiiaklH,  lli0-is;i; 

iiHiiiiix,  lii.')',  As-liiil)iijn>,  :!7-;  .\«l- 
rl.",  A-l'i,  4111;  llaiiiiaks.  I'J'.l ;  Itmck- 
,,   4'J'.):   l'ali^Drlllall^.   I.''!!,  l.'it;   Clur- 

!.s,  7;  diiiioi)k>,  •IM;  VW\\<\H\\iis, 
;  (Jri)\v.'<,  41'.' ;  Dawilalix  ((•!'/»' f*i"ii.\); 
-riiiUM.  44ii,  4l'i;  K  iiri'liaiis,  li,  i:i, 
;    Kliilliiiw.t,   4!(S ;     Klailiiiul.s  (('i''« 

Siiii't  mill  iiliiuti');  lliii'iiiis.  lit.  li', 
:  lliliiiiis,  ,'il;  lioiiiriiis,  l&4-'.'iH; 
is|n'l>,  4:'.»;  KiiiiMi.'*.   Vl'i;  Kiiskaskliis, 

Kiii'triiays.  4'J!i.  l^i'.i;  Liiiiisiaiia.il-; 
mis,  .')4;  .MissDinis,  l.'i:!;  Mieinuos.  lil, 
;  .Miiiiawks,  ls4,  I'li'.. ;  ^llllllll).'lllll.^ 
i7o,  :);t^;  Nati'lu'Z.  7,  \ll\  Ni'W 
.icuii.'*,  0,  etc.;  New  York,  Ici4-'i!ii4; 


New  r»l(«(1nnl«n«,  2.1!) :  Nox-pcrci''*,  420 ;  ! 
OrrUiiii^  'i'<'>,    4J),    I'Uv;     i>,-iai.''H.   417; 
l>i>iiri>iN,   III;  Hl'llllnllll'^   ll'^;  Hill|>u|i^ 
4'.'ll;  ljii>ii\.  r.'ii:  .Siiiki's.  I'.",l ;  'IVmui-,  ,'.,  i 
1,'i:i:     WviiiiilolH,     til);     VHkaiiiit%    iiilO;  | 
Yi'lliiwkiiiv.  s,  .■;'<7. 

lri>li  I'liiiKraiils,  '.'I). 

IriM|iioiii  liiillttii.4,  1st,  ct". ;  iliuir  Afliwiiin, 
11*4. 

iIiickKoii,  fli'iirnii  Aiuirow,  '.'!K, 

Ji-iiitM,   till'    I'litlii'iJs  l»,   I't,  47-OU,   01-72, 

lli:i-lll.  111.'),  I'l". 
Jii){in'H.  .Ifsiiil  Katluir,  iimrtyr,  lil,  4^,  180, 

*S\,  «t(!. 

J..li.'t,  .•'li'iir.  40. 

Jiiii'lih.  rtuliit,  Vixloii  of,  !i');  Ml.i.><lon   of, 

(•)l,    llM. 

iliic'liuriau,  Mother,  'J7I, 

Knllnpel  Iiiillnim,  4'.>0. 
Kiiiisa- IiiillaiiH,  I'J.'i;  >fi'nli)iin,  42(V 
Kii»ka-klii  I'lilians  aii'l  Mission,  Mi, 
Ki'iiliii'ky  MI-~iiiMs,  'JT7. 
Kiii'iiiiay  IimIIims,  I'.",i,  |;10. 
Kryii,  iMnliiiwk  clin'l,  \\)'i. 

\m  Dull'  'rsliTi'.  Mr.  ilr,  70,  128. 

I.iikc,  Our  l.a'ly  iilllii'.  '.'.'17 

l.all.'iiniil,  KaliiiT,  imiityr,  60. 

Lali.r,  .MKs  .\ll,'i.,  .".'li. 

I,iiiiilii'rvill.',  I'ailiir.  107, 

\m  I'rairli-  Mis,i,iM,  I;i7,  lit,  109. 

I.uiiiy,  l!isliii|>.  |:l. 

Liival,   Miiiitniiirt'iii'y    ilo,   lii.sliop,  89,  03, 

141.  '.'11.'. 
LKvcrloi  lii'ri>,  OMati'  rallnr,  :((!■.>. 
Ll'  Hit,  Mail.'iiiols,  H-  .Iiaiinr,  121.  13L 
Ll'  Maltri'.  1''  illii  r,  iiis  ilialli,  70. 
Lh  I'rclri".  .'*i'li.'iii'iir  ili',  OM. 
LItiiny  111  Itli's-i'il  VIp.'ii,  1.')7,  2S0. 
Lnnu'i'iiil.  llariMi  ilr,  I'JI. 
Liiiiirli'lliiw  iin.iti'.l.  21,  2110,  41)9,  421. 
Lnri'ltliii'S,  ■J'.iil,  :(l,'i,  :;i\ 
Lorctto  111  .Noiiti  Aiiiirii'S.  11)0,  220,  We. 
Loriill.)  SisiiT'  111.  •111. 
Louisiana  .Misslmis  anil  Indlanii,  112. 
Luhvorlh  Casili',  •.<:2\. 
LyiiL'li,  llisiioi).  His. 

Macp,  Ki'ViTrml  MhIIiit,  1M 
.Miiriliinalil,  Iti'V.  .Ai'ni.s,  ^'-il, 
Mai'iliinni'll.  i;i>iiii|i.  ',;;. 
Mai'klnai'.  .Maii)'ii'tti'  ai,  49. 
Ma''kiniii)ii.  IIisliii|),  330. 

Mai'l I.  342. 

Miii'li'oil.  Marv.  313 

MhImi',  MissiuMs  In.  3t0. 

Maisoniii'in  I',  l.iinl  of.  7.">.  's7-S9. 

Matisi',  Maili  iiioisilli'.  (jncs  lo  Montreal,  78, 

Mari'i'lial.  UMmii,  '220. 

Miiri'iiil,  FalliiT.  III.'). 

Miiria  Hilt;  .Maria  Sti'in,  2^. 

Maria.  S  iiila,  sliij)  of  Colninbua,  2. 

Marians,  Oil. 

Mark.  Kranoispan  Katlicr,  S. 

Miiriiiii'tii',  .(I'Miit  Katlu'r,  8;  sketch  of  his 

laliors,  47,  li)7;  lU'iiili.  M. 
Murtlu,  St,  Convent,  21i2. 

20* 


Miiry  Ako.  M9. 

Mary,  liMllaii  uinion  no  oiill.'il,  171, 

.Mary,   .Miiilirr  of  Oi.il,  |i,.r  KriaiiiP"",  4; 

iiir    iiiiili'riiily,    I'.';    ("laT I   uf  iiruyur 

Hiiil  ur.iii',  Is;  |,aiii.iii'>.,  In  Aiiiirna.  30; 
laily  «ini'ri'ii'ii  nf  .Muiilri' il,  70;  t  ili's  of 
ill  Anirrna,  il,°);  Iiiiliun  lU'Volion  10, 
1 1"',  172,  I'll'  ;  (ililairs  Ml,  ;;,•,!»:  l„.r  hl»> 
lory  till)  liisi..rv  of  tlit-  Cliiirrii,  4.'>i); 
iiiKiilli  of.  13:':  l.ii'ly  of  Nnrlli  AiiuTltii, 
4.V.I ;  I'.iiiijiM'si,  In  .\iiiii  ii'ii, 'J3. 

.Mary  at  tliu  lool  of  ll'.j  Cio-n,  .Sisters  of, 
277. 

Mary  of  tlio  hoarnBilon,  32;  Lor  vision, 
33;  li.r.li'aili,  47. 

Mary,  rrli;.' mis  s.i  iih-noil,  U18. 

Miiri  liiiiil,  .Mis. lull"  In.  l.'iO. 

MiUi'iioil,  Itisliiiii  .ll'.  :i,'iT. 

.M.'.lal,  It^.'s-iil  \hyin  Mary,  23,  111.  175, 
201,  lil,  41.'). 

Mi'laskwat,  Ali.Mii(|Mln  chief,  106. 

,Mi'iiiliri',  Failnr,  1 12. 

MriiKinirf,  'I'lii',  ill  Iiiillan,  3.15. 

.Mi'ii«ariiii.  I'',,  liiT,  134. 

Mi'llaril.  {''iilli  T,  103. 

.Merry,  Msli'is  nf,  '.'OO. 

Mi'ssiiili,  Alii'iiaki  liailltliin  of,  44. 

Mnslri'.  (Ill  ale  Fiillier,  307. 

,Me\li'ii  Misslniis.  'Jl. 

Miami  Mission.  .'i|. 

Mli'iirie  liiil  ans,  ill,  l.'il, 

Mliil-lers    Divliii'.  ihi'ir  elmrai'terl-tic.',  10, 

M  s-lniiarle.s.  Lic'lis'i  [li'i,'  .Maiylaml), 
l.'iO;  Kreiii'li,  lOri,  |.|e  (rul.-  (iliialo, 
.Ii'siilt,  ell'.);  S|iaiilsli,  16,  .'jj,  14!);  iirun- 
eiseaii.  1.3:  III  eilii'.s,  IS, 

M„ssoiiri  .Mi.^luiis,  l.v;. 

Moliauk  Inilliiiis,  17,\ 

.Moiitli  III  .Mary,  1:12. 

Mnniiiiiiy,  .Mr,,  1 1'2. 

MdiiI ri'iiey,  Hislinp  Laval  ile.  <=9,  lit, 

Monireal,  Its  IniiinliT,  To:  eoiisi'rraluil  to 
Mary,  127  ('•/(/.•  Vill,'-Mr.rl.'). 

Mnriiiii;:  Mar,  V.'va'.-i'  of  ilie,  ibS, 

iMi'iiliii,  Oiilaie  Ki'illiif.  4011. 

Mountain,  Mission  of  the,  02,  139. 

Nagte,  Miss.  200. 

Narvaez,  f) 

Natelii'/  Imliann.  Mlsi^tons  to,  7. 

Nellie,  llislli>|i,  '.''Ji;, 

Neniirkx.  I'"iitlii'r,  277. 

New  ('a  eiloiiia  .Ml— Ions  2.'i0. 

New  .Mi'xii'o.  Mi— iiiis  ill. 're,  110.  )f,<2. 

New  York,  lirsi  .\ll-iiiii.«.  i-,| ;  \Uh[  elmrph 
In,  103;  111  si  siiiiil,  lllil;  ili'votloii  to 
Mary  two  ceiitiuies  ago  in,  2Uo;  diocese 
of,  227. 

Nez-|ierei'S  Iiiillaiis,  429. 

Niai.'ar.'i  Fa  I-,  .ilS 

Norriiltrewnek  Imrneil,  170. 

yi'itre  I>iiini'  ihx  yifliiirex  {ridfi  Our 
La'ly  mill  Slsur^).  !••;  lA'  Imu  Seeonin, 
IS,  32();  <1''  /■'(.('/',  mo.  2IN:  del}  beiges, 
1311;  lie  I'liniif)!  Sicmtrn,  M'.l', 

Notre  Dame,  Si-trrs  of.  1 14,  '203,  268, 

Nova  bcotlu  Mibisions,  CL 

Oblates  of  Mary,  859. 


4f56 


Index. 


0(!ln,  Archlpisliiip,  OOS. 

Ollico  oCtlu'  IJIcs-ed  Virgin  Mary,  20S. 

Ollico,  T)i villi'.  ■J(W. 

01l«r,  .IdIhi  ill)  Vi'iiipiill,  70;  his  di'votio:. 
to  ilie  BIcsmhI  Virgin  Mnry,  70,  7;i; 
foiinila  Si,  Siil|iici',  7-';  ilcaili,  7-t;  Uovo- 
tiiin  to  Holy  Kniiiily,  li7. 

Olinos,  FatliiT  Amlii-w  ili,  fi. 

Oregon,  '24.  '.Tm.  et<. ;  Oliiatcs  there,  305; 
Jesuits  tiuTc.  L'.'i."i;  Si-trr,-,  25S. 

Orono,  renoliscot  cliirt',  l,v2. 

Our  Laily  of  Aiis.'i'ls,  (il  ;  hoti  S/'coiim.  SO, 
VVi,  l;!(i,  MJii;  rmiirri'^'alion  ol",  7.'),  h\, 
837;  oCFoie,  KM),  '.'o.j;  olOiiailiilui.e,  18, 
151;  of  Silver,  7ii;  of  Siiow.^  l.ill;  of 
Victory,  lis.  l:jO,  U4,  :it:i;  of  viuious 
titles.  22."),  i-14 ;  of  llio  r.al?e, '.'4:1;  of  the 
Solliuile,  14s;  of  O.iiienum,  I!):!;  of  La 
Tiappe,  '.^7:  of  I'eare,  'JilO,  :!!!>,  ■i-M. 

Oueniliaea.  .Mary,  •JIO. 

Ouriliiiuaii',  (.!.iyiiga  cliief  1U6, 

Owenai;iin{,'ii,  li?2. 

Padilla,  Kftllier  Jolin  <le,  5. 

I'iintlieiMii,  17. 

Parker,  |ire:i('lier  icon'  "'ast,  435. 

Paul,  ln<li:iii  Ijoy,  St. iry  of,  4.!1. 

Peace,  Our  Luly  ol,  -I'M). 

Pellrie,  Madame  ile  la,  37 

Peiisai-ola.  Seltleliieiit  of,  (i. 

Peoria  Mi~.sioii  and  liiiliaii,<.  111, 

Persoiialilv  of  (Jml,  17. 

Pliiladelplila.  •.'2',» 

Pictures  of  ilie  lile.ssed  Virgin  Mnry,  '20, 

14.">,  302, 
PilirriiMaiiPs,  Anicri'-in,  320,  323,  351. 
Planting  i.ftlie  <'  .i>s,  447. 
Poems  to  the   '.Jlobeil   Virgin  Mary,   140, 

324. 
Point,  .Tesuit  Father,  434,  449. 
PoissDii,  Martyr,  112. 
Ponce  de  1,1'iiii,  5. 
Poor  Cl.ires.  22li. 

Precious  Uliioil.  Conaresalion  of,  2S0. 
Priess  nf  ill-  Foreign  Mi->ioii,  1|(». 
Prompt  Siiecor,  Our  l.ady  of,  '2U7. 
Protestant  li'SiiMiony.  1  t,  2."). 
Proveiieli,  r.  lii-lmp,  3(13. 
Pureed,  AiehbL-hop,  25S,  2s0,  2S7. 

Quaylus,  70. 
Quebec,  02,  145. 

Ram,  Bisliop  de,  451. 

Kappe,  l.isliop.  300. 

Ha-ies,  Jesuit  I  ailier.  niartyrod,  176,  346. 

Pattlesnakes  in  a  cuiiveiil.  3()S. 

P.eeolleet  I'riars,  (in.  i(l>,  139,  144. 

Iteiiins,  Olilale  I'alln-r,  373. 

Kcnililu,  S:sler.  2."is. 

devolution.  Fipiu'h.  .3(0,  3,')C. 

Iti-ymil,  Fallier,  200. 

Kiljonr.le.  Deaili  of  F-.thcr,  108. 

Kiehard.  Father,  221. 

Uosarv,  'I'lie,  45,  1,>1,  1S9,  208,  278,  2S0,  a44, 

3.^v4. 
Sacred  Heart,  La<lics  of,  813. 
Saguart  anion.  27. 
tit.  Auibrobu,  Sister,  807. 


St..  Augufline.  Florida,  founded,  C 

St,  diaries,  01. 

St.  {^oine,  .Mr   de,  77;  martyr,  112. 

St.  Francis.  Mis.-ioii,  107. 

St.  .Mary's,  03,  (Marvland),  157,  (Onondaga) 
l'.i:t,  (Flat heiiil),  132. 

St.  I'alai.s,  liislnip  de,  2-10. 

St,  Vallier,  lii.slnip,  1'29. 

Sulazar,  Fallier,  0. 

S.dairnac  de  Fenelon,  70. 

Salmon,  Father,  deatli,  2'20, 

Santa  Maria,  Fatlier  John  do,  martyr,  1,',2. 

Saria,  Father,  deaili,  156. 

Saiit  Sle.  Marie,  4.S. 

Scapular  of  the  Ulessed  Virgin  Mary,  '23 
45."). 

Seal  of  VI  Up- Marie,  134. 

Semiiioh.s,  .Meiiiiing  ot,  148, 

Servants  of  the  Imuiaeulate  Heart  ot 
Marv.  31.% 

Seton.'lieliecea,  274. 

Selnli.  I;ev.  Miither,  '227,  271,  273. 

Sillery.  linilan  de,  01,  105. 

Siiipoil  Indians,  429. 

Sioii.\,  mas.-,aeres,  397;  Mi.-^aions  aiiiuiig, 
4'20. 

Sisters,  of  Nr.ire  Iiaiiie.  114,  2."i.3.  203;  „f 
Oliarlty,  271  ;  (iiav  Si>ters,  41.  270;  llii>- 
pilal  Sisters.  7il,  12\  |:ll;  of  llnly  Cn.-N, 
240;  of  the  Visilatinn.  2-.'0;  of'Mercy, 
2(.0,  207;  of  l'i,>videii.'e.  279;  of  tlie 
Poor,  272;  of  the    (mmmI   Sheplierd,  ;ilii; 


Itoiiiiiiic,  27!?; 


170, 


of  Lorolto,  277  :  of  ,st 

various  orders,  2.s7.  310. 
Smet,  Fallier  d.',  257).  4'23,  434,  437. 
Smith.  I'atij.r  vl'rinee  Oalilziii),  2'29. 
Snake  Itidiaii.s.  429 
S11..W.S,  Dur  Ladv  of  ide,  l.",9. 
S.MladLie.s.  lilessed  Virgin  Mary,  23. 
S.niieia.  Father,  I5t. 
Soriii,  Father,  '241, 
Soto,  Fernando  dl,  5;  his  will,  149. 
Souart,  l''allier,  76,  77,  1.33. 
Soiiel.  Maityr,  1 1'2. 
Spanish  labor  for  .M.ary.  '23. 
Statues  (,f  .Maiy.  s,  ;i:j,  ii:i,  ino,  1:!:3, 

2o:i,  21111,  210,  29\  3KI,  32s,  396,  4:j3, 
St, //(I  MulKtiiKi,  249. 
St.  V.allier,  l!i>li(ip,  129. 
Stilpiee,  St.,  founded,  72. 
Sulpician  Fallier.s,  7,°),  76. 


'lai'lie.  (Il)lale  IJisliop,  364,  370. 
'reirahkoiiit.i,   Cailieriiie,  the  Saint  of  the 

Molitiwks,  liiO,  iO.s, 
Te.Miii  .\li~-iiiii-,  146. 
'I'liehaisof  Oiiid,  'I'll,',  2S7, 
Theu.\,  De,  Jesuit  Father,  44S. 
Tsawelilo,  Mary,  I'.l.i. 

Ursnline»,  flieir  first  Houses  here,  .32.  219: 
at  New  Orleaii.s,  2112;  in  (;iiu;iniiati, 
800;  in  (iaive.sloii,  302;  iu  (ileveiaiiil, 
801. 

Va-qnez  dp  Avllon,  .5. 
Velder.  Fatller.de.  424. 
Veiitadoiir,  Diike  o(,  01. 
Vutrouiue,  Fatlicr  Kugene,  853, 


Index. 


467 


iitriislinfi,  Florida,  founded,  d 

iiirlus,  til. 

■>nic,  Mr   (Ic,  77;  martyr,  112, 

riiiicis,  Mis-iim,  1(!7. 

iiry's,  ()!!,  (Miir\  luml),  1S7,  (OnondiiL-a) 

,  (Fl(itli.'iiil),  l:)-.'. 

ilais,  liisliop  dc,  '240. 

illicr,  IJi.sliop,  1'.'!). 

ir,  I'liilii'i',  (i. 

imc  (In  I'V'iK'lon,  "(i. 

>n,  Km  her,  deiilh,  2'>0. 

Maria.  I''allu'r  Joliti  do,  inurtyr,  l.'.'i 

KuiluT.  (Iiaiii,  \ijli. 
HU).  MKfii',  4,'5. 

lar  of  tiie  lliessed  Virgin  Mary,  '2:i 

if  Villp-Miirio,  134. 

K)!vs,  Muaniiig  of,  US. 

Ills    of    llie    Iniinaiiilate    Heart   of 

■V,  81.'). 

,"U.d.ccca. '274. 

,  llo.y.  Motlicr,  •2'27,  '271,  273. 

I',  I'.nilari  dc,  (il,  \ljb. 

11  Indians,  4'2!t, 

,  iiias.Micres,  3'J7 ;    Mlsaions    aii\i)]i^', 

s,  of  Noin-  Danic,  114,  •2.'A  iiC:!;  ,jf 
■rity,  -271 ;  (irav  Sifters,  41.  '2711;  ilos- 
I  5>isl,T.s.  711,  [■1\  l:U;  of  llcdy  (■r(.(^^, 
;  of  Uw  Visilal.iuii,  'i'Jli;  of  Mercy, 
'Mil;  of  ri,,vidi'ii.-i-.  U'Tll;  of  the 
ir,  ■27'2;  of  tlu:  (iuoil  SliopluTd,  :;i(l; 
LiirelU),  '277:  of  St.  liojidnie,  '27f; 
oiis  ordoi's,  '2S7,  ■>lii. 

iMilliiT  (!>■,  'A-j,').  42:'.,  4IU,  4:37, 
.  I'atii.r  ^I'rim'u  Cialilzinj,  '229. 

IndlaJis,  4'J',t 
S  Our  Lady  of  id,",  1.1^ 
IK'S,  lili'ssrd  Virgin  Mary,  '23. 

a,  Failior,  1,tJ. 

Kalher,  '241. 

Fernando  di,  ,"i ;  ids  will,  149. 
t,  l'"allior,  70,  77,  Vio. 

Maityr,  112, 
-Il  labor  f{jr  .M:iry,  '2:!, 
■s  of  .Mary,  s,  ;i:i,  H;.!,  lOn,  l:i:3,  170, 

2ii:i,  2111.  •2',ls,  :flO,  :j2s,  390,  4;:>:J. 

Mdliitiiiii,  •249. 
llifr,  l!isli(.|i,  129. 
V,  St.,  founded,  7'2, 
Ian  l''atber»,  75,  70, 

,  Oldatu  iJisliop,  304,  37», 
kouU.a,   CallierinL-,  tliu  Saint  of  tbe 
lavvks,  liiO,  li».\ 
.Missions,  146, 
is  ofOido.  'i'lie,  '2^7. 
;.  I)c,  Jesuit  Fallier,  44S. 
nlu,  Mary,  11»;). 

nv^,  tlieir  first  Houses  liero,  S'i.  2lfl: 
New  Orleans,  -2112;  in  (jiricinnati, 
;    in  Galve.slon,  302;    in  (ileveianil, 


Vestitipnts,  Harp,  123. 
ViTot,  Bishop,  13. 

Victory,  Our  l.aily  of,  119, 1.30,  144,  373. 
Viu'iial,  dcatli  of,  70. 
Vllk'-Marie,  31,  74.  113,130. 
Vlririnia,  I'''irst  Missions  of.  7. 
Visiiatin:i  ,if  Mary, '220;  (Jhnrcli  of,  13S; 
Siste-s  of,  220. 

• 

WalUrnette  Mission.  20.3. 
Wan'piini  for  Our  Lady,  109,  203. 


Wnnbanaki  Indians,  ,<?47. 
Wldte  Fallii'r  in  Maryland,  1,')7. 
Wisconsin,  'I'lie,  Marqiietio  there,  60. 
Wreel;  of  Eni:li-h  Meet,  131, 
W'yandots,  or  Wendat  Indians,  04 

Xavior,  St  Francis,  57,  417. 

Vakaina  Mission,  306, 
Yellow  Fm-er.  ::o3. 
Yellow-knil'u  Indians,  387. 


^■* 


V7.  do  Ayllon,  !). 
r,  Kallur.de,  424. 
liMir,  Dnki^  (d.  01. 
Jiiie,  Futlier  Kugene,  888, 


